Yields information about Ballarat's scrubber tram in early 1960's.Black and white print of Ballarat 32, crossing Lydiard St, in Sturt St with the destination of Gardens via Sturt St West. Has the Commonwealth Bank, Odeon theatre, Mechanics Institute, Ballarat Gas Co, Unicorn Hotel, and Colonial Mutual Life buildings in the background, along with a number of motor vehicles. Photo Doug Colquhoun 24/3/1959. Photo print courtesy of Port Dock Railway Museum, now the National Railway Museum. See worksheet 4311 for letter and details of prints sent to Bill Scott, 19/10/2001. Any photo credit to mention NRM Collection.On rear of copy "SEC Ballarat #32 / Sturt St @ Lydiard / 24/3/59 / Douglas A Colquhoun.trams, tramways, sturt st, lydiard st, tram 32

Yields information about the Eaglehawk terminus, tram 18 and the tram liveries in 1963.Black and white print of Ballarat 12, crossing Lydiard St, in Sturt St with the destination of Gardens via View Point. Has the Commonwealth Bank, Odeon theatre, Mechanics Institute, Ballarat Gas Co, Unicorn Hotel, and Colonial Mutual Life buildings in the background. A group of children with bicycles are on the corner and the newspaper seller stand. Photo Doug Colquhoun 23/3/1959. Photo print courtesy of Port Dock Railway Museum, now the National Railway Museum. See worksheet 4311 for letter and details of prints sent to Bill Scott, 19/10/2001. Any photo credit to mention NRM Collection.On rear of copy In top left hand corner "72) No . 71 withdrawn" a yellow label with "24" crossed out over a sticker "Photo No. Reduced to 82% 145x80 see photocopy for masking" and "22" crossed out in the top right hand corner. In the lower left hand corner "SEC Ballarat #12 / Sturt St @ Lydiard / 23/3/59 / Douglas A Colquhoun"trams, tramways, sturt st, lydiard st, tram 12

The Corner was where the Ballarat Stock Exchange was housed where groups would gather each day. Also pictured are the Unicorn Hotel, the Mechanics' Institute and Grevilles Hotel. This sketch comes from from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views circa 1870-1880.corner, buildings, commerical, public, hotel, sturt street, premier album of ballarat views

Black and white photograph (2 copies)Typed below one photograph, "Little and O'Keefe's racing car outside their garage in Whitehorse Rd. near Coffeys - 1925". Written on rear of backing sheet: "L. Little & E. O'keefe. Little ran the pictures in the Mechanics Institute."

Black and white photograph (2 copies- 1 large, 1 small)Written under large copy: "Old Town Hall- c1930's." Image shows old Mechanics Institute at rear of Town Hall in Melbourne Street being demolished. J. B. McAlpin Real Estate on opposite corner.

These albums are attributed to Carl Grove (1849-1939) , first selector at Newmerella, where he planted hops in the 1880's. He was an orbost Shire councillor for 25 years, helped to establish the library and the Mechanics Institute and was one of the first Orbost Butter Factory directors.These albums are significant mainly for their connection to Carl Grove.The collection of live plant specimens from the wild with correct labelling can provide a record to be used for research.Three large books of botanical specimens. Each has a brown cloth cover which has cloth tape ties attached.On front cover - FRONTgrove-carl album plants botany

The Appendix of Art Schools under the Technological commission includes Ballarat City Schoolof Art (Academy of Arts, Ballarat West), Ballarat East School of Art (Ballarat East Public Library, Barkly St) and Ballarfat West School of Art (Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute).1 Twenty-three page typed report on foolscap sized paper dated 1886. It includes an appendix of a List of Schools of Art Under the Auspices of the technological COmmission for the year ending December 1886. .2 Twenty page photocopy of typed report on foolscap paper. Dated 1886. It includes a syllabus of technological subjects recognised by teh City and Guilds of London Institute. .3 Thirty-one page typed report on foolscap sized paper. Dated 1887 .1 and .2 are sectioned - 2 large sheets folded to make 8 pages. Sections are them stapled together .1 and .2 Victorian Government reports printed by John Ferres, Government Printer, Melbourne .3 Report printed by Robert S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne Each report is numbered bottom left-hand side: .1 No. 21-[1s.3d]; .2 No. 67-[1s]; .3 No.36-[1s3d]technology, technical education, royal commission for technical education, education, henry brougham loch, joseph bosisto, art schools, science schools, w.c. kernot, frederick mccoy, c.r. blackett, f. stanley dobson, andrew burns, j.g burns, ballarat west school of art, ballarat city school of arts, r. baker, e.h.l. swift, a. doepel, henry wheeler, w.h. batten, james oldham, henry j. hall, kew school of art, maryborough school of art, trades hall female school of art, clunes school of art, castlemaine school of art, professor huxley, edward fraser, a. humphreys, j. oldham, f.j. hall

This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries. In 1938 Ballarat celebrated 100 years since white settlement with a city wide floral festival and parade. Businesses decorated their shops with elaborate displays. ballarat, centenary, decorated, bridge st, shops, floral festival

This booklet is a catalogue of most of the works of art that were displayed in an exhibition in the Warrnambool Art Gallery in 1994. It was described as ‘a celebration of artists committed to living and working in country Victoria’. It was intended to be the first of similar exhibitions and was initiated by the Warrnambool-based Cultural Association of the South Coast and Western Plains. The Warrnambool Art Gallery was officially opened in 1886 though the local Mechanics’ Institute and Museum had been collecting works of art before this date. When the Mechanics’ Institute building was taken over for Council use in 1963 the Art Gallery ceased to exist and the works put in storage. The Gallery re-opened in temporary premises in 1971 and the present Warrnambool Art Gallery, a memorial to Fletcher Jones, was opened in 1986 in Liebig Street. This is an interesting catalogue as it is one of the few examples we have of the work of the Cultural Association of the South Coast and Western Plains. This Warrnambool-based group operated for a short time only in the 1990s.This is a soft cover booklet of 40 pages. It is bound with metal staples. It has a white cover with black printing and reproductions of black and white works of art on the front and back covers. The booklet contains reproductions of the works of art (in black and white) by 34 south west Victoria artistswarrnambool art gallery, history of warrnambool

Born on the 22nd October 1852 or 1849 St Ives Cornwall, in 1896 Thomas and Mary Elizabeth moved to Melton. Mr Lang’s previous school was Coliban SS No 1920. Mr Lang was the Head Teacher at Melton until 1917. In 1910 he was a Committee Member Melton Mechanics Institute and Public Library atits establishment. He was a Life Member of the Melton Mechanics Institute In 1875, he married Mary Elizabeth Coates on the 30th December at the home of Mrs Coates, Thomas Lang of Norton’s Creek aged 26 andMary Elizabeth aged 24 of Armstrongs. They had 9 children, Thomas.J. Lang, George William, Jessie, Maude, Effie, Walter, Horace, Eva and James. Passed away in 1927. Black and white photo of Langlocal identities, education

Hardcover book, 224 pages. Cover has a colour image of a man and a woman standing near a tree.fictionRomance novel.rethea creese, romance, fiction

Enlargement of right hand side of photo 0541. Top end of Main St. looking East towards Big Hill. From left Herbert Photographic, T Brown, Star Hotel on bend jutting out into middle of road. Mechanics Institute in background. Two Horse wagon in street on left.stawell businesses streetscape

Public reception for World War 1 Returned Soldiers , Thursday 28th August 1919 at the Mechanics Institute Camperdown. The soldiers were presented with a Golden Kookaburra by the local Repatriation Committee. Further details on trove.nla.gov.au ,search Camperdown Chronicle Saturday 30 August 1919 page 2 "Reception to Soldiers"small folder 45mm x 70 mm containing a Golden Kookaburra pendant 22 mm high The Great War 1914-1918 Camperdown Thursday 28th August 1919

Sandringham was originally part of the Shire of Moorabbin. On 28 February 1917, Sandringham was severed from Moorabbin and incorporated as the Borough of Sandringham. It was proclaimed a Town on 9 April 1919 and a City on 21 March 1923. The Sandringham Town Hall, located on Abbott Street, Sandringham (formerly the mechanics institute) was demolished in 1994.councillor, sandringham, local government, municipality, mayor, portrait, city of sandringham, sandringham town hall, abbott street, cr. e.l. belyea, cr. b. champion, cr. h.b. grace, cr. c.a. hartsman, cr. j.e.d. beck, cr. b.j. ferdinado, cr. t.g. farrant, cr. w.t.c. kelly, cr. g.w. knott, town, proclamation, bayside, hampton, black rock

Sheep Hills is located Sheep Hills in the northern Wimmera region, north-west Victoria between Warracknabeal and Minyip.The Sheep Hills cenataph is opposite the Mechanics' Institute. The cenotaph commemorates those from the district who served in World Wars One and Two and lists the names of those who died in the conflict. Sheep Hills War Memorialsheep hills, sheep hills cenataph, sheep hills war memorial, allan albert, walter robert childs, joseph william darling, william pleass gove, george laing, herman percy robert schultz

The photograph shows SEC Ballarat tram No. 33 (Gardens via Drummond St North) in lower Sturt St mid 1950s with tail lights installed. In the background is the Ballaarat Gas Co. building, Patersons, a hotel and the Ballarat Mechanics Institute Building with signs for Robur Tea and Davies Bread. Photographer unknown.Yields information about tram 33 and lower Sturt St mid 1950s.Black and white print with plain back.tramcars, tram 33, sturt st

The Cannon used to be in front of our Library (mechanics Institute), it was removed by Local Council for restoration and after occupying several locations was stolen and has never been recovered. The cannon was called the "Sir John Byng' as it was believed to have come from the ship with the same name. It had never been proven either way.Black and white Photograph of the cannon (Sir John Byng) Outside Port Fairy Librarydefence, cannon, gun, carriage, gun carriage

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interest.Helen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. Tom Sheehy, past President of CMHS, was an Historian and Author of ‘Battlers Tamed the Sandbelt’. A4 paper printed both sides x1. Issue 6 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in April 2008. Notice of Dr G Whitehead talk , titled ‘Murder” on April 27th and Subscription fees due. Another excerpt from the CMHS August 1963,, by Tom Sheehy, President, ‘This is the News of the early twentieth century…’.The ‘Moorabbin News “ began in April 1900. Tommy Bent was elected to State Parliament, horse races at Epsom Course Cheltenham, and the development of Cheltenham as many businesses set up ‘opposite the Station’. ‘The Mechanics Institute and Temperance Hall and the Exchange Hotel faced one another in defiance’ CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / APRIL 2008 NEWSLETTERcity of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, chelsea, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, sheehy tom, whitehead dr graham, box cottage museum, highett, bent thomas, moorabbin news cheltenham, epsom race course cheltenham, victoria, fletcher n, fiander mrs., puttick george, moorabbin co-operative society ltd., hay h., freeman j.w., montanjees m., royal oak hotel, rose m.a., matthews j.t., hewett h., cope and dow builders, market gardeners and fruit-growers association, proudman e.w., benjamin m.e., edwards t.a., solicitors, pharmacy, butchers, bootmakers, bakers, hairdressers, barbers, house painters, grocers, publicans, drapers, craftsmen, members of parliament, valuers, moule w.h., argus newspaper, coachbuilders, cheltenham railway station victoria, thompson w., post office

Kodachrome Transparency - 35mm slide - cardboard mount, with one side with red border and words "Kodachrome Transparency" top and bottom. On the other side is "Made in England" and "View from this side". Photo taken by Ben Parle 1/1954. Photo of Ballarat No. 28 and 35? at the City terminus, south side of Sturt St. at Lydiard St. with the Commonwealth Bank, Unicorn Hotel and the Ballarat Mechanics Institute buildings in the background. Number of potential passengers waiting at the stop. Note the tram stop signs. No. 28 has the destination of Gray St. Sebastopol. Note the verandah on the National Mutual Life building and the portable "No Parking" sign on the right hand side of the photograph. For high resolution scan see btm2813h.tif "Sturt St Ballarat" "1/54"tramways, trams, city terminus, lydiard st north, sturt st, tram 28, tram 35

This photograph is held in the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute Audio Visual Collection. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries. The back of this photograph notes: Uncle Tom Duke and Uncle Jack Duke among this group. They worked at George Farmers before Tom worked at the S.E.C depot in Wendouree and Jack joined the police forceballarat, george farmer, factory, eureka st

Upper Main Street Looking East 1886. From left J Allingham Drapers. J Chadwick & Co Drapers. Bank of Victoria partly obscured, Commercial Hotel, Oriental bank, Punchard's Furniture. On right is the side of Mechanics Institute obscured. B.S. Dawson Chemists & Wadsworth Watchmaker. English Scottish & Australian Bank . Upper Main Street scene with people standing in roadway, Side of cart visible on left. c 1880stawell streetscape

This book at one time belonged to the Pleasant Creek Library and Mechanic Insititute, Quartz Reefs. The Adventures of a cavalcade of British Naval Officers in the Holy Land. Dedicated by permission to: Captain George Lethbridge R.N. and the Officers of H.M.S. TrafalgarBrown Spine and Cornors, front and back patterned paper cover, part missing, clear tape on spine top and bottom. Top Right Inside Cover J.W. Evans & Co. Binders 11A Flinders Way. Notice pasted on inside of front Cover. No. 1313. Pleasant Creek Library and Mechanics Institute Quartz Reef. Members will be held responsible for any damage done to books in their possession.stawell education

Photo features South African or Boer War Memorial in the Sturt Street central median near Lydiard St with SEC No. 35 (former MMTB and Hawthorn Tramways Trust tramcar). An advert for Longhurst Quality Bread is adjacent to the Mechanics Institute building. Also in the view are the Commonwealth Bank, the Ballarat Gas Co and Beacham's Unicorn Hotel.Yields information about the South African War Memorial in Sturt St.Postcard black and white, plain back, with a handwritten note on rear.In ink on rear "Bogie No. 35 (1948 shot)" tramways, trams, sturt st, boer war memorial, tram 35

Murray Views Postcard No. 51, of No. 30 passing the Sturt St shelter stop at Grenville St. Has Gear Chemist, Thomas's Gifts, Millegrens Union Hotel, Ballarat Gas Company, Patersons stores and on the Mechanics Institute Building, signs for Davies Bread and Robur Tea. Has another single trucker tram stored in the City Loop.Has a strong association with a Melbourne tram driver who assembled the scrap book and series of photos of Ballarat trams at the time of closure and with the collector of the 2nd card - Keith Kings.Postcard contained with Reg item 5988, a Stamford Kiwi School Scrap Book - card covers, 23 sheets, spiral bound, titled "Ballarat", prepared by Ellen Butland of Auckland following the closure of the SEC Ballarat Tramway system.In ink on rear of 2nd copy - "Ballarat No. 30 in Sturt St looking west over Grenville St, City" and the "KSK Collection" stamp.trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, city loop, tram 30, grenville st

Upper Main St. Looking East (Herbert Photo) Businesses are the Cash Store, J. Webb, J Allingham Draper, Chadwicks Draper, Commercial Hotel. Two Story Oriental Bank Building / O'Driscoll solicitors. Horse drawn cart in street. On right is the side of Mechanics Institute, R H Wadsworth Watchmaker. c 1880's. Victorian Views. C. Herbert, Photo. Stawell 1878streetscape, businesses

William Wilson Jamieson came to Warrnambool around 1857 after running a Ironmongers business in Hawthorne died . He opened his store in Liebig St which he operated until his death in 1882. He was quite active in the community serving on the town council for a number of years and also the Oddfellows Lodge and the Mechanics Institute. He came to Warrnambool in 1857, after running an Ironmonger's business in Hawthorn and having worked for the hardware company McEwan & Co. in Melbourne. He bought a weatherboard building that had previously been a 'bowling saloon' in Liebig Street and opened a business that Gardner describes as a general store and Turnbull describes as a drapery store. He was a member of the town council from 1862 to 1874 and from 1877 to 1880 and also served as mayor for two terms. He was also active in community organisations including the Mechanics institute and the Oddfellows This token is of great importance. It is significant for three reasons: 1. It is an example of an 1850s Australian token, demonstrating an early business practice in our history. 2. It is an example of a Warrnambool token produced by an important Warrnambool business (only two firms in Warrnambool produced tokens)A round copper token. The token was issued by: W.W. Jamieson & Co.. Liebeg St. Warrnambool, Storekeepers 1862 which is in raised lettering on the obverse of the token. The reverse features a blindfolded woman with the scales of Justice in her raised right hand. She is standing beside the seashore with a sailing ship in the background AUSTRALIA is stampedabove the figure anf the date 1862 is stamped below.W.W. JAMIESON & CO STOREKEEPERS LIEBEG STREET WARRNAMBOOL. AUSTRALIA1862jamieson token, warrnambool, william wilson jamieson, warrnambool ironmonger

This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries. This is the Mouth Organ Championsip of 1925. Some of the players shown are Percy Spouse, Stan Andrews, Harold Collier and Sydney Dickens. They are holding Boomerang Mouth Organs. Thanks to Phil from the harmonica riff raff blog for this information.ballarat, inside, coliseum, hall, south st, competition, crowd

Five Folk Dance and Music advertisements. The white one is for an Australian Social Dance and Music Weekend held on 10th - 12th June 1995 at the East Bendigo Progress Hall. The green one is the TSDAV 1996 Dance Dates. The light blue is for TSDAV Dance Weekend held on the 8th - 10th November 1996 at the Foreshore Community Hall at Portarlington. There was a Dance Programme and Workshop Programme. The darker blue is for TSDAV 1994 for a Dance Composing Competition sponsored by the Vic. Folk Music Club. The cream one is an advertisement for a Concert presented by Folk Victoria. Two singers, Julie Felix and Judy Small appearing at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute on Saturday 18th February (no year). On the back are brief notes about Julie and Judy.clubs and associations, theatre, victorian traditional social dance, peter ellis collection, traditional social dance association of victoria, bendigo bush dance and music society, lucy stockdale, carol higman, colin towns, vic folk music club, folk victoria, julie felix, judy small, folk song & dance society victoria inc

Pattison Collection This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1942 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. 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. Warrnambool Public Library 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, and to 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. As with many Mechanics' Institutes in Australia, the one which operated in Warrnambool was established and overseen for many years by key individuals associated with the development of the city itself. The WMI publication collection is historically significant because of its association with local people, places and the key historical themes in the development of Warrnambool of rural development, industry, farming, education, and community. The collection documents and illustrates the changing interests, focus and tastes of Victorians, especially those in regional cities. Generally, the individual items in the collection are not particularly rare, as examples of all probably exist in other public collections in Victoria. It is primarily because there are so very few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, which lends this overall collection its significance. Many items in the WMI Collection have the potential to support further research, both as individual objects and through the collection in its entirety. This material is significant for its ability to assist in the interpretation of the history of the area and adds to the general understanding of the development of the township. Many components of the WMI publication collection complement and reinforce the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Collection, the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection, and that in the Warrnambool Historical Society, and also contribute to a clearer understanding of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute collections. This will greatly enhance the appreciation of the few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections across Victoria, and also in New South Wales. The similarities and differences between the small number of collections that have survived can provide further insights into how the people of Victoria in general, and Warrnambool in particular, constructed a civic culture of adult learning to foster an informed citizenry. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is of both local and state significance. A Tale of Two Cities Author: Charles Dickens Publisher: Collins Date: 1859 The label on the spine with the typed text PAT 823.8 DIC Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, a tale of two cities, charles dickens