Portrait of a seated woman with short red hair, black turtle neck and blue skirt with multiple figures in background. Signed and dated lower right 'Clifton Feb 55'. Label on reverse: 'Lauraine Diggins/ Cat no. 29/ Portrait of Pat Tozer/ Oil on Particle board/ exhibited - The Antipodeans'.clifton pugh, painting, portrait, pat tozer

The veterinary items would have been used in a domestic situation for the care of family pets.These items are examples of domestic veterinary items used in the early 20th century.An old Pascall tin containing six items - Goddards Mercurial Plate Powder; Krect Condition Powders; Krect Worm Tablets; Forbes Phosferrine Tonic for the nerves; Tibbs Cat Powders; Piperazine citrate for tapeworms. The tin has boating scenes on the sides and top.Pascall Claremont TASMANIAveterinary pascall

Mr John Herron and his wife Isa Mary Herron purchased the house at 4 Vickery Street Bentleigh in 1950 from Miss M Marriott. He was a descendant of John James an early settler dairyman in Moorabbin Shire and Miss M Marriott was a descendant of the early settler market gardeners Marriott family. Mr Herron lived there until 1989 and the house was then demolished and turned into a carpark for the busy Shopping precinct of Centre Road, Bentleigh.The Marriott family were early settler market gardeners from 1878 in the area of Dendy’s 1841 Special Survey and John Herron was a descendant of Philip Jones , a chair-maker, who settled in the area of East Brighton, now Bentleigh, in 1852 An original letter, dated 10th May 1950, from solicitors Boothby and Boothby requesting settlement of costs involved with purchase of house at 4 Vickery Street Bentleigh by Mr John Herron from Miss M Marriott Attached is a Statement of Adjustments cat 00053.4 * Boothby & Boothby Imperial Chambers / Solicitors etc. 408 Collins Street/ B>B Boothby / N.B Boothby / - BBB/VP Melbourne C 10th May, 1950/ and at / Korumburra / Loch and / Poowong/ Telephone M 1275 ( 2 Lines )/ Mr. J. Herron, / 4 Vickery Street, / Bentleigh / re Marriott signed N Boothby solicitors, pioneers, early settlers, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, market gardeners, dairyman, dairy farmer, jones james, jones mary ann, jones martha, jones elizabeth ann, dendy henry, dendys special survey 1841, elster creek, melbourne, jones ethel may, herron isa mary, herron john, tram conductor, marriott m, boothby and boothby

Home of Fred & Laura Howard married 1902. Standing in front of Slab hut home are four people. Jack Howard, Alan (Ike) Howard. Rene Howard, Sorrie Howard and the twins in the crib Rodger and Andrew Howard. Little Wimmera River Dadswell's Bridge.Black and white photograph of a family group in front of a timber slab home with a corrugated iron roof. The family group consists of two standing and two closer to a crib with two young babies. Two of the females look to be holding animals and a cat can be seen nearby. Jack Howard, Alan (Ike) Howard, Rene Howard, Dorrie Howard and the twins in the crib, Rodger Howard and Andrew Howard. house

(.01)Reproduction of c1927 Swallow & Ariell poster from the Classic Australian Poster Series (.02) as above but mounted. (location C19.07) (.03) small glass framed postcard of .01 The poster shows salesman, little girl pointing and a cat; also the words "Biscuits and cakes"business and traders, industry - food, swallow & ariell ltd

Else Oertel and her daughter Else-Lore were interned in Camp 3A from 1940. Her husband was not interned as he was on a business trip to Germany when war broke out. Olive green linen cover with embossing on edge and spine. Gold printing on spine. 256 pages. The front of the original dust cover has been attached to the inside of the book. It is colour picture of four children in a farmyard with chickens and two cats. Painted by Ettel Kate Burgess.Hand written inside: Else-Lore Oertel from the Red Cross, Christmas 1942, Tatura Internment Camp 3A. else lore hukins, children's books, camp 3, christmas, red cross, internees

To assist with blind and visually impaired people signing documents, a signature guide creates a rectangular block of space that fits most signature areas on paper. This example was produced by RNIB and provides directions on usage.1 plastic plate with rectangle holeSignature Guide Cat No. 9020 Have window placed over signature space hold card firmly in place with your hand write your signature within the opening of the windowassistive devices, royal national institute for the blind

For photographic print refer Cat No 3529P. For photograph refer Cat No 3531.Complete Personal & Service Record of Donald GILLIES Reg No 1366. Also a copy of 13th Australian Light Horse Regiment embarkation roll, 7th Reinforcement - embarked from Melbourne onboard HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23.11.1915.documents, service, records

The Greensborough Cat Protection Society of Victoria has cats available for adoption.News clipping, black text, colour image.cat protection society of victoria

Badges relate to Florence Edna Morrell, a Red Cross Nurse in WW1. Refer Cat 3056P. Also refer to Ron Morrell Cat 316, and Beryl Scrimshaw Cat 315.1. Badge of the Red Cross connected with copper chain link to Red and White braid. At top Red and gold pin with small white cross at top. Halfway down the braid is a second metal insignia of Red Cross Nursing. 2. Badge of the Red Cross in metal with name and number engraved on back. Gold copper chain link to Red and White striped material braid. At top decorative Red and gold pin with small white cross at top. 1. Headed "Proficiency in Red Cross First Aid. Medal inscribed with the " British Red Cross Society". On back inscribed "15672 F.E. Morrell 1933" 2. Headed "Proficiency in Red Cross Nursing. Medal inscribed with the " British Red Cross Society". On back inscribed "10325 F.E. Morrell"bages, red cross nurse, ww1

See Cat No 3505.23 a connection with Warick JOHANSON. See also Cat No 3506.Photo album consisting of heavy cardboard sheets tied together with brown cord. Photos appear to be of training camps in Victoria & Northern Territory & on deployment in New Guinea. All captioned. Several missing. “Printed in white by hand: Captions under each photo”books-albums, photography-photographs, military history

See Cat No 3504P a connection to Warick JOHANSON. See also Cat No 3506.23 x loose sepia photos with album. .11) Postcard photo. Items are of various sizes. .2) “ Handwritten inscriptions on back” .22) Labeled: “Taken outside our tent March 1944” .23) Labeled: “Entrance to our living room April '44”photography-photographs, military history - army

Frank Kirkham, refer Cat No 3868. James Kirkham, refer Cat No 1281.Cutting in colour showing Frank Kirkham with a framed photo of North Beach ANZAC. Brought home by his father James Kirkham.In pen “25.4.1977”newspaper, anzac, north beach

Document. Greeting Cards. White card with pattern cut edges. Indented area with 'With Hearty Greetings and all Good Wshes for Christmas and the New Year from' printed in black. At the top left edge is a black cat with a red collar sitting on a pink wall with a vine growing along it.person, individual, greeting cards, malone collection, greeting cards

A letter for Capt. P.R. Young doing a refresher course for parachute jumping so that he could parachute in the couse of his duties as Australian Intelligence Service dated 10 January 1962 with US special forces. Found in top left hand pocket of jacket. Cat. No. 11889letter, young, peter raymond

Framed tiles featuring Chinese design of a table laden with food. Under the table is more food and vetables and a black cat. The desigin is formed by four ceramic tiles placed together to create the picture. Brown timber frame with gold edging and a cream textured vinyl window mount.

This is the before paired photograph used in the 150 year Lakes Entrance 1858 - 2008 Display held in 2008.Black and white photograph Lakes Entrance Ocean Squad members standing on jetty, Cape Cat catamaran boat Parledee moored at jetty, after salvaging runabout boat, shown in photograph in vertical position tied to jetty, that had sunk near Kalimna. Lakes Entrance Victoriavolunteering, community services, boats

Refer Cat No. 1280. "JACK GRINTON No. 1038" 38th Bn - Refer Cat No. 1280 for Service History. "BERT GRINTON No. 5024" 38th Bn - Refer Cat No. 1320P for Service History.Story Board - framed. Story board - black print on white and pale blue background on synthetic paper adhered to backing board. Illustrated - one black and white photograph, one colour photograph. Frame - metal with wood backing board."A CAMERA ON THE SOMME" "Life after 1919" Photographs - black and white - "Grinton family: Jack, Bert and Fred (back), and Arthur, May, Hughina and Emily (front) Tragowel 1920", Colour - "38th Battalion reunion hosted by the Grintons"framed accessories, camera on the somme, ww1, 38th bn, grinton

Refer Cat No. 1280 for Jack Grintons service, Cat No 1320P for Bert Grinton DCM.Postcards - collection top to bottom - left to right. Nine (9) cards. Top left: cardboard, insert coloured silk embroidery on cotton, flowers, flags, sailing boat, greeting. Middle: cardboard, inset coloured silk with embroidery on cotton, butterfly, greeting. Right: cardboard, inset coloured silk embroidery on cotton, flowers, greeting. Second row left: cardboard, inset coloured silk embroidery on cotton, basket of flowers, greeting. Middle: cardboard, handwritten greeting and note in black ink. Bottom row left: black and white photograph postcard, cardboard. Two soldiers in uniform. Middle: cardboard, handwritten greeting and note in black ink. Bottom row - top right: black and white photograph postcard, three women. - Lower right - colour printed postcard, with flowers, flags, painting and "Good Luck and Coo-ee" greeting on scroll. Frame - Perspex front, screwed to brown painted MDF backing board. Dark brown mount, cardboard.Greeting silk embroidery. "From your loving son" From your Soldier Boy", "With my love". "Loving Greetings". Handwritten greeting in black ink. 2nd row middle Dated “21.10.17", frame/ “Dear Arthur/ love from your loving brother/ Jack W. Grinton" Bottom Row: Middle - "From your loving/ brother/ Albert V. Grinton". framed accessories, camera on the somme, ww1, 38th bn, grinton

Refer map Cat N0 4577. Doug Dean collection, refer cat No 4575PPhoto, B & W, rectangular shape, Shows North side of Tobruk Harbour, black lines and numbered up to 34 have been added to the photo showing facilities, bomb craters can be seen, hand written in white on one side.On side of Photo, “78.E.ME/351 No 2 P.RU 14.3.42 F/36 (arrow)”tobruk, harbour, 1942

Samuel Rosenthal. Refer Cat No 620 for service history, Cat No 1020 re medals.Personalized ID disc, oval, metal belonged to S. Rosenthal. Disc is oval in shape and slightly curved with a small hole in each end" Lieut S Rosenthal Jewish 58th Bn AIF "uniforms - military, indentification disc, personal effects

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of crew members from the 135th Assault Helicopter Company refuelling their aircraft, as they wait for a new tasking. The Unit was unique in that it was made up of half Australian Navy Pilots and half US Army pilots. The unit was stationed at Bear Cat, 3 Corps area, Vietnam.photograph, 135th assault helicopter company, australian navy pilots, united states army pilots, bear cat, 3 corps, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, crew members

Belonged to Ron AMY who was a member of the Port United Social Party in 1956. Kevin LAVENY is possibly Kevin LAVERY. Charlie BATTERN possibly Charlie BATTENPort United Social Party 1956. Large coloured photograph in cream mount. Shows 25 men in three rows. Social/Glee Club. Names of each man underneath. Donor's husband Ron AMY 4th from left top row. (Cross refer to Cat 2661)societies clubs unions and other organisations, social activities, port melbourne social party, brian nichols, alf earp, eddie mclaughlin, ron amy, len clarke, john murphy, charlie rowe, mick amy, j garland, george lowe, wally lockhart, ray amy, oscar rouse, tommy gleeson, charlie cosham, kevin laveny, kevin 'wookie' lavery, bob forward, harold 'dags' brown, harry mitchell, jock morrison, charlie battern, charlie batten, lance 'ox' earl, john o'keeffe, bill wilson, graham 'nuts' nugent

Refer to map, cat No 1635, Grinton collection. Refer Cat No 1280 for Jack Grintons detailsPhotos mounted on cream background with ornate light brown frame with glass front, white cardboard backing with wire hanging strap. Down left hand side: Photo of Sgt J GRINTON, photo of view toward Bony, photo of Sgt BRUNKER verso & Lt CALLAN Down right hand side: Photo of Fredrick LEHMANN, photo of L/CPL RISBEY's Cross, photo of Roy A INGLETON. Centre: The history relating to these photos is in black print on a white background. Top centre: The Hindenburg Line 1918photos, framing, ww1

John Killeen No 1323. Refer Cat No 2824 for his service history also Cat No 2825.3.Tan veneer wood frame with glass front, white cardboard backing holding items re John Killeen. 1. Record of Service book. 2. Certificate of Discharge."No 1323 Cpl John Killeen Corps Cyclist Batt, 10th reinforcements 4th Light Horse Regiment AIF. 19.7.1915 - 27.8.1919. Formerly of Strickland Road Bendigo"military history - service records, documents - army records, passchendaele barracks trust

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 reading room in November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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. 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. A Dictionary of Chemistry and Mineralogy Vol 1 Authors: A & C R Aikin Publisher: W Phillips Date: 1807 The label on spine cover with typed text RA 540.3 AIK Fly paper has a boomerang shaped stamp that reads Royal Mint Library, Cat. No. 540 A 1, Acc No. (no number)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, a dictionary of chemistry and mineralogy vol 1, a & c r aikin

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 reading room in November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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. 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. A Dictionary of Chemistry and Mineralogy Vol 2 Author: A & C R Aikin Publisher: W Phillips Date: 1807 The label on spine cover with typed text RA 540.3 AIK The fly paper has a boomerang shaped stamp that reads Royal Mint Library, Cat. No. 540 A 1. Acc No. (no number)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, a dictionary of chemistry and mineralogy vol 2, a & c r aikin