Black and white photograph. (2 copies)Typed below photograph: "Old town hall, Ringwood, Maroondah Highway Cnr. Melbourne Place. 1927". Written on backing paper: "Town hall Ringwood after completion - front only, 1927".

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council his huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower areas of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave from 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However, he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Pattison. Eventually, the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and it's 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 1850’s 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. Talk of The Town Author: Cecil Hunt Publisher: Herbert Jenkins Date: 1951 First published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd. 3 Duke Street London 1951The label on spine cover with typed text PAT 914.2 HUN Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, talk of the town, cecil hunt

Lady Delecombe Sir Rohan Delecombe Mayor Cr G.S. Bennett Lady Mayoress Mrs Bennett Governors Aide watching the town hall clock strike. Stawell Town Council Centenary 1970stawell government

Tourists sampling the life of a timber town Negative Black white Scanned at 600 dpitourists sample timber town life passengers bump top story 17

Black and white image of Ballarat's Sturt Street looking towards the Ballarat Town Hall.ballarat, sturt street, ballarat town hall, pepetual mutual society, berry anderson, allan brothers

Group photography Great Ocean Road Trust, taken at Geelong Town Hall 1918great ocean road. geelong town hall

Photograph of sculptural portrait of William Collard Smith on a marble memorial in the Ballarat Town Hall..In Memoriam Lt. Col. William Collard Smith M.L.A. Ballaarat West Member of the Municipal Council of Ballaarat From 1856 until 1892 Chairmand 1860-1. Mayor 1874 and 1887 Obiit 20th October 1894.ballarat town hall, sculpture, coat of arms, william morris, volunteer rifles

Photograph of sculptural portrait of William Collard Smith on a marble memorial in the Ballarat Town Hall..In Memoriam Lt. Col. William Collard Smith M.L.A. Ballaarat West Member of the Municipal Council of Ballaarat From 1856 until 1892 Chairmand 1860-1. Mayor 1874 and 1887 Obiit 20th October 1894.ballarat town hall, sculpture, coat of arms, william morris, volunteer rifles

Photograph published in the Australasian of Ballarat Looking North-east from the Town Hall Towerballarat, ballarat town hall, ballarat post office, ballarat railway station

Ballarat looking toward St Patrick's Cathedral, from the Ballarat Town Hall tower. ballarat, aerial, ballarat town hall tower, st patrick's cathedral, sturt street

Ballarat looking toward Craig's Royal Hotel, from the Ballarat Town Hall tower. ballarat, aerial, ballarat town hall tower, craig's hotel

Postcard - Black and White - Valentines "The Town Hall" number V62 - looking at the Melbourne Town Hall buildings. Has a number of motor cars and trams in the view. On the rear - has a divided back, and "A Real Photograph" " & Produced in Australia" and the Valentine's logo.On the rear has the stamp of Graeme S Breydon - see image i2.trams, tramways, elizabeth st, gpo, post office

Council's seals were stamped into hot wax to officialise documents. 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.Two round brass seals on wooden handles. The longer brown wooden handle seal reads around edge 'TOWN OF SANDRINGHAM' with an illustration of St Edward's crown in centre. The black wooden-handled seal reads around edge 'CITY OF SANDRINGHAM' with an illustration of St Edward's crown in centre. Both seals have mushroom-shaped tops and tapered arms.There are remnants of red wax on both seals.seal, common seal, stamp, town of sandringham, city of sandringham, writing accessory, wax seal, bayside

Displayed at History House. Portland Town Council.Booklet, black and white cover and pages. Two staples in spine.Front: Cover: (Signatures) _/Valery Stephens (blue ink, upper centre).

Historic BuildingsB/W Photo West up Warrenheip St. Town Hall precinct, 1970's, Across roundabout to Town Hall, Shire offices and fire station left, Whykes Butcher shop and Adams Store, and two story Bank to right.buninyong, learmonth st., shops, town hall precinct

Mr A H Tompson held the positions of Town Clerk, Collector and Valuer to the Borough Council and Secretary, Treasurer and Collector to the Waterworks. The letter is signed by A H Stewart (Mayor), A G Aitken, R H Burgman Councillors & Town Clerk.Two handwritten letters on 'Borough of Rutherglen' letterhead (the first one a single page, and the second one two pages) expressing appreciation of the work of the Borough of Rutherglen Secretary, A.H. Thompson, on the occasion of his transfer to Rutherglen Shire Secretary."Borough of Rutherglen / Rutherglen 8th Feb. 1917" Borough seal on last page. burough of rutherglen, shire of rutherglen, a h thompson, a h stewart, a g aitken, r h burgman, a n presswell

One of the items which would have been presented to a relative of the donor when he was visiting Rutherglen Scotland in 1974.Decorative certificate, printed in blue and gold on textured paper, from the President, Councillors & Ratepayers of the Shire of Rutherglen. Space for the name of the recipient of the "Honorary Citizenship of the Township and Shire of Rutherglen" has been left blank as has the month and day of 1973 for the presentation.At the bottom of the certificate, there is an illegible signature above the words "Accredited Citizen of the Township and Shire of Rutherglen", along with a small red seal. rutherglen scotland, royal burgh of rutherglen

Panorama of Stawell from Big Hill Grampians in background. c 1940View of Stawell with the Grampians in the background, a grassed area in the foreground with a line of pine trees in front of the town.Panorama Of Stawellstawell, panorama

Ballarat looking toward the former Ballarat Post Office, from the Ballarat Town Hall tower. ballarat, aerial, ballarat town hall tower, sturt street, ballarat post office

Black and white photograph of J.H. (John) Brown, Town clerk, City of Nunawading, 1965-73city of nunawading, brown, j.h.

Black and white photograph of Leslie (Les) Fell, Town clerk, city of Nunawading 1983 - 1988city of nunawading, fell, les

Black and white imahe of the Maryborough Town Hall and Port Office, with horse drawn vehicles in the foreground. maryborough, victoria, maryborough town hall, maryborough post office

historic buildingColour photograph, Buninyong Town Hall (1886) front, angle view from North-East, buninyong, view, town hall

Kew became a separate municipality in 1860.The plaque commemorates that event. It was once located on the rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Kew.Important commemorative plaque signifying an important event in Kew's history.Brass plaque, originally attached to the first rotunda in the Alexandra Gardens in Kew, commemorating the Jubilee of Kew in 1910.Erected by / Public Subscription to Mark / The Jubilee of the Municipality of Kew / Opened by Sir Thos. Gibson Carmichael / Bart. K.C.M.G / Governor of Victoria / 8th Decr. 1910. / H.H. Harrison, Town Clerk / J.F. McCrae, Mayorjubilee of kew, rotunda, alexandra gardens, kew