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. The King and People of Fiji Author: Joseph Waterhouse Publisher: Wesleyan Conference Office Date: 1866 The label on spine with typed text RA 996.11 WAT Inside Front, endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Inside front, endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum Handwriting on the Flypaper reads " Henty Findon 1866"warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, the king and people of fiji

Colour photographs from the Caro Conference Centre Courtyard looking towards the E.J. Barker Library.e.j. barker library, albert coates centre, mount helen library, mount helen campus

John Ellison was a teacher at Wail primary school in the 50's before moving to Natimuk primary in 1956Five pages typewritten report of a teachers' conference held in Horsham (most likely in the 50's). Several corrections in red pen.primary teachers, horsham

Members at the General Managers Conference, London, around 1946.Black and white photo of 7 men seated around a table in suits. Photo is framed in wooden frame painted silver. Back of the frame has the names of the men written in pen.Back: [handwritten] LEFT TO RIGHT / Mr Wollan Manager Dalgetys East Africa / K. R. ELDER GM Australia / LT. COL. HON. I. LESLIE MELVILLE DIRECTOR / DESMOND ABEL-SMITH CHAIRMAN DALGETYS / G.S. HUNTER GENERAL MANAGER / LONDON / M. STOOKS Secretary / D. COOPER G. MANAGER NZ / General Managers / Conference London / About 1946managers, coference, london, dalgety and company limited

Black leather bound bible with embossing on cover and handwritten notes on flyleaf written by Rev George F Dyson (son of Martin) 15 April 1944.Presented by the Conference of the Victorian and Tasmanian Wesleyan Methodist Church to the Rev Martin Dyson, as a momento of his year of office as president of the of the conference 1893 Melb. March 5th 1894.

Stewardship Campaign was a method of systematic giving which lost popularity in the 1960s.Methodist Church of Australasia (Victoria and Tasmania Conference) Department of Stewardship Promotion buff card with red text.methodist church of australasia stewardship campaign

Conference themes of language and power, language maintenance and language in education raised in an Aboriginal context; papers separately annotated.maps, tablesyolngu, yirrkala school, language maintenance, bilingualism, vernacular language

Photograph depicting press conference at 1973 Davis Cup Final. Materials: Paper, Ink, Plastic, Photographic emulsiontennis

From papers presented at the 2009 AIATSIS National Indigenous Studies Conference and the 2010 symposium Information Technologies and Indigenous Communities.technology

Royal Historical Society State Conference - 12 October 1986 A & B Ravenswood Estate C & D Whipstick Forest

Colour photograph showing first remote videoing conference between Melbourne Zoo and Primary School Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, activities

Colour photograph showing first remote videoing conference between Melbourne Zoo and Primary School Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, activities

Colour photograph showing first remote videoing conference between Melbourne Zoo and Primary School Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, activities

Colour photograph showing first remote videoing conference between Melbourne Zoo and Primary School Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, activities

Colour photograph showing first remote videoing conference between Melbourne Zoo and Primary School Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools, activities

Clothing. White cotton detachable ladies collar. Band along bottom edge has three button holes. Old box 573.Written on collar, ''Try One Like This G'ders Conference'' (pencil), ''M.E.BUSH'' (pen)costume accessories, female, white cotton ladies collar

Photocopy of a paper titled "COTMA Its Origins, Aims and Operation", by Keith Kings, Executive Officer, presented to the Meeting of the Historical Engineering Relics Committee of the Institute of Engineers Annual Conference, 7 April 1978. Looks at the structure of COTMA, preservation movement in Australia, and formation of COTMA and past conference and that all work is voluntary.trams, tramways, cotma

Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM, was born in Milingimbi, eastern Arnhemland in 1945. He was educated at Milingimbi Mission School and pursued his theological education as a youth leader and Sunday School teacher through the Methodist Church, before attending college in Brisbane. In 1969 he trained as a Minister in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands under the Uniting Church, before returning to Arnhemland to minister his own people at the Galiwin’ku parish, firstly as a lay pastor (1971-1972) and then as a Minister from 1976-1982. In 1983-84, Rev Djiniyini worked as a Lecturer in Theology at Nungalinya College, Darwin. He was honoured with a Diploma of Theology (Honorary) from there in 1984, and in 1991 received a Cultural Doctorate in Literature (Honorary) from the World University, Roundtable, Arizona USA. Rev Djiniyini was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1995. As well as being the Chairman of ALPA since 1993, Rev Djiniyini is currently the Director of Duduy’ngu Pty Ltd, which provides consultancy and cross-cultural services. He is also Director of Yirrkala Business Enterprises. Over the years, Rev Djiniyini has served on many committees and councils including: Member of the Steering Committee of the Australian Indigenous Cultural Network (1998-2001), CEO of Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc (1998-2001), CEO of the Northern Regional Council of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (1998-2001), Director of Reconciliation Australia Limited (2000-2001), Member of Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (1998-2000), Chairman of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (1995-2000 & 1990-1993), Member of Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (1991-1994), Moderator of Northern Synod, Uniting Church in Australia (1985-1987), Secretary of newly formed Aboriginal Presbytery, Northern Synod, Uniting Church in Australia (1985), and Vice-President of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Uniting Church in Australia (1983-1987). Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM has also been extensively published, and his works include: • Information Papers (co authored), Aboriginal Resource and Development Services: • Confusion Between Cultures (1998) • MHead & Shoulders of Djiniyini Gondarra facing right of picture."Rev. Djiniyini Gondarra 1986. Moderator Northern Synod and Vice President of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Conference."gondarra, djiniyini, uaicc, northern synod uca

Grass Roots History, proceedings of the joint conference of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in Melbourne 1989.Alan Robertsbook, historical societies, historical societies.

Printed text on newsprint.New South Wales Police; 4th National Homosexual Conference, Sydney; Gay liberation

Printed text on newsprint.4th National Homosexual Conference, Sydney, 1978; Council of Civil Liberties; NSW Police;