This book was given as a prize to William Giles in the late 19th century. It came from the Skiddaw Sunday (or Sabbath) School. Skiddaw was the home of the Batterbee family and was situated on the old Princes Highway in East Warrnambool near Simpson Street today. The corner here was known as ‘Batterbees Corner’ and there is a Skiddaw Street in the locality today. George Batterbee had a ham and bacon business in Warrnambool. For 36 years his wife, Mary, conducted a Sunday School at Skiddaw (from 1882 to 1918). This Sunday School was under the auspices of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool. Mrs Batterbee was assisted by her daughter Florinda and other teachers. Florinda and her brother Rex were both artists of note. William Giles and his family lived on the Allansford Road. The Logan family farm was in the vicinity of where Logans Beach is today. This book, though tattered and stained, is most important as the only item we have in our collection that is associated with the Skiddaw Sunday School. Situated in a family home, this Presbyterian-sponsored Sunday School operated for 36 years under the direction of Mary Batterbee. This is a book of 32 pages with the cover and perhaps some of the pages missing. It has been stapled but the staples have been removed. The book has large print and illustrations on all the pages. The illustrations have been coloured in by hand. The first page is loose and scribbled on. The pages are very stained and torn in places. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Skiddaw S. School, Second Prize, Awarded to William Giles for diligence in class, S. Logan, Teacher’. skiddaw, east warrnambool, batterbee family, giles family, logan family, history of warrnambool

This is an early school reader for junior classes. It was used by members of the Giles family at Wangoom State School. This book has the names Robert Giles and Stella Giles. The Giles family lives on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School commenced in 1865 as Wangoom Common School, No. 645. After 1872 the Common School system was abolished and it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an early 20th century example of a school reader used in Victoria. It has no Australian content. It is also of interest as a book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 190 pages. The cover is black with embossed lettering and ornamentation (much of which is now indecipherable). The front and the back of the book have missing pages. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. Some pages are torn and the spine of the cover is torn at the top. There is some scribble in the book, with the decipherable material handwritten in black ink. ‘Robert Percy Giles, Wangoom, November 5th 1903’ ‘Stella Giles’ giles family, wangoom state school, history of warrnambool

This is a school text book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family. The book contains the names of Allan Giles and Henrietta Giles. The Giles family lived on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later became known as Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an example of an English Grammar book used in Victoria early in the 20th century. It is also of interest as a school book used by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area.This is a soft cover book of 80 pages. The cover is dark red with black lettering and an ornamental border. The cover is very stained and worn. At the front and the back of the book and on the back cover are advertisements for other books published by Allman and Son. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil. There is a purple stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page of the text. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ ‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Allansford Road’ wangoom state school, giles family, history of warrnambool

This is a primer, or first reader, printed by the Victorian Government Printer for the Victorian Education Department. It has the name ‘Christina Giles’ and the date 1898 which is also the date of the publication of the book. Christina Giles was the seventh child of Henry and Mary Anne Giles and was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness. The book would have been used at Wangoom State School. This school was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645. It is now closedThis book is of considerable interest as it is a reader produced for the Victorian Education Department in 1898. It has no overt Australian content but an illustration of a tram in the text has the wording ‘South Melbourne’ on it. It is also of interest as a school book used by Christina Giles in the year before her death.This is a soft cover book of 65 pages. The cover is black and may not be the original one as it has been roughly stitched on to the pages with thread and is much frayed. The text has many black and white illustrations and some of the pictures are torn with parts missing. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Christina Giles, 30/5/98’christina giles, wangoom state school, victorian school reader 1898

This school text book has been used at the Wangoom State School in the late 19th century by Henrietta Giles. The Wangoom school was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Giles was a member of the Giles family that lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of the school texts used by children in Victoria late in the 19th century. It contains the history of Britain in Tudor and Stewart times and has no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by Henrietta Giles, a member of the family that settled early in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 331 pages plus some supplementary material at the end. The cover (once blue?) is much stained and torn and the embossed black lettering and British Coat of Arms on the front cover and the spine are now almost indecipherable. Part of the back cover and the bottom edges of some pages have been eaten away. The inscription is handwritten in red ink. The text contains many illustrations, some of which have been hand-coloured. The first two or three pages are missing.‘Henrietta Giles, Wangoom S.S. No. 645, 22/7/91’henrietta giles, wangoom state school

This is a school text book used at the Wangoom State School late in the 19th century by members of the Giles family. The Wangoom school was established in1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Allan and Christina Giles used this book and their home was on the Allansford Road. Christina Giles, the seventh child of Henry and Mary Jane Giles, was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness.This book is of interest as it is an example of the reading books used in Victorian schools at the end of the 19th century. Royal Readers were introduced into Victorian school in the 1870s to replace the Irish Readers and continued to be used until the 1920s. They have no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by Christina and Allan Giles, members of a family of early settlers in the Warrnambool district.This is a hard cover book of 188 pages. Some pages at the front and back of the book are missing. The cover (once blue?) has embossed lettering and ornamentation but mostly this is now indecipherable. The pages are partly detached from the cover. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. The text contains many illustrations and some of these have been hand-coloured and defaced. The first page has a mauve stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ (partly obliterated) ‘Christina G.’ christina giles, allan giles, wangoom state school

This school text book was used at the Wangoom State School by Henrietta Giles in the late 19th century. The Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Robina Victoria Giles was born in Woodford in 1881 to Henry and Mary Jane Giles, early settlers in the Warrnambool district. They lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of a school text book used in Victoria late in the 19th century. It is also of interest because it belonged to Henrietta Giles, a member of a family living in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 70 pages. The cover is brown with embossed lettering and ornamentation on the front and back cover. It is much stained and splotched. The first page is torn at the edge and some of the other pages are dog-eared. The two inscriptions (identical) are handwritten in black ink.‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Wangoom State School, No. 645’ wangoom state school, henrietta giles

‘Warrnambool Past and Present’ was written and published in 1907 by Edward Vidler. It is a seminal work on Warrnambool’s history. It is noted for its historical accuracy, its complementary value to Osburne’s History of Warrnambool published in 1887 and its presentation of historically important early photographs. Edward Vidler, born in England, was a writer, historian, journalist, editor and publisher. He was in the Geelong area in the 1880s where he produced a commemorative volume on that city. He was in Warrnambool in the early 1900s where he produced his book ‘Warrnambool Past and Present’ to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Warrnambool. He also organized the establishment of the Warrnambool Pioneer Honour Board with the portraits of 204 pioneer men from the area. John Ward was a pioneer settler in the Warrnambool area. He was a Councillor (1880 to 1911) and Mayor and had a shop at the corner of Jamieson Street and Canterbury Road. He was an historian and wrote articles on aspects of early Warrnambool and a comprehensive history of Methodism in Warrnambool. Thomas Wicking was a noted Warrnambool historian in the second half of the 20th century. These two copies are most significant. Originals of this book are rare and the book is of key importance in the recording of Warrnambool’s history. Edward Vidler, John Ward and Thomas Wicking are all of importance in the telling of Warrnambool’s story.These are two copies of the book, ‘Warrnambool Past and Present’. .1 No cover, pages 1-82, (some pages missing at the back), bound with adhesive tape, inscriptions handwritten in black, stamp of Camperdown Historical Society, front and back pages slightly crumpled and torn. .2 Replacement hard cover in brown with gold lettering, pages 1-80, (some pages missing at the back), inscriptions handwritten in pencil and blue ink. Both books contain printed text, many advertisements and over a hundred photographs and illustrations of Warrnambool and district. .1 ‘M.Whitehead’ ‘Presented to the Camperdown Hist. Soc. by Hilda Whitehead, 1988’ .2 ‘Thos. Wicking’ ‘John Ward, 24 Hampton Rd. Armadale’ edward vidler, history of warrnambool, thomas wicking

This book has been in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society for many years and little is known of its origins. ‘Anne Watson’ may be Annie Watson, nee Grant (1830-1906), the wife of John Watson who came to Victoria in 1855 and had a farm in the Cudgee area. There is a reference to a ‘G. Geary’ as a member of the Belfast (Port Fairy) Choral Society in 1860. This is an early memento of settlers in the Warrnambool area and their religious adherence and, as such, is of some interest. This is a hard cover book of 391 pages. The cover is brown leather with gold lettering on the spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. There are two mauve stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the front and back pages. The cover is a little scuffed. ‘Presented to Anne Watson by her nephew, Godfrey N. B. Geary, Oct. 4th 1856’. history of warrnambool, anne watson

This book contains information for children on a great variety of topics and is in the form of a catechism with questions and answers. Pearl Davidson would be a member of one of the pioneer Davidson families. The brothers, James, John and William Davidson were early settlers in the Warrnambool district. This book is of antiquarian interest as an early instructional guide for children. It is also of interest because it belonged to a member of the Davidson family, important early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 474 pages. The cover is a mottled brown with gold lettering on the spine. The binding is much worn and partly torn away. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Pearl Davidson’pearl davidson, the child's guide to knowledge

This book bears the names of Linda Mathieson and Nullawarre State School. The Mathieson families were early settlers in the Warrnambool area at Woodford and Purnim and later in the Nullawarre district. Nullawarre State School was opened in 1875 with members of the Mathieson family being foundation pupils. It still operates today.This book is of interest because of its connection to the Mathieson families of Nullawarre and to Nullawarre State School.This is a hard cover book of 92 pages. It contains many short articles, over 80 illustrations and advertisements at the back of the book for other books published by T. Nelson and Sons. Some of the illustrations have been hand-coloured. The cover is buff-coloured with ornamental patterns and an image of a family watching a slide show outlined in dark red. The lettering on the cover and spine is in black, red and brown tonings. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Nullawarre S.S. Linda Mathieson, 14.4.23’. linda mathieson, nullawarre state school

This book comes from the property of Lyndoch near the mouth of the Hopkins River. George Rolfe, a tea merchant from Melbourne, established Lyndoch in 1875 and Miss Florence Lake, daughter of Miss Annie Lake, later Mrs George Rolfe, inherited the property with her sister Annie. In 1920 Florence Lake built a large house called Lyndoch. She had a Rolls Royce car and a chauffeur and was a tireless worker for local charities. Florence Lake died in 1946 and the property became the site of an Aged Care Facility in Warrnambool. Florence Lake’s house now forms part of the hostel section of this facility. This book would have been in the Lyndoch library during Florence Lake’s time there. D K Broster ( Dorothy Kathleen) was a popular writer of historical novels in the early part of the 20th century. The Flight of the heron being her most acclaimed This book is of interest as it came from the historically-important property and house known as Lyndoch and so it is connected to Miss Florence Lake, a prominent person in Warrnambool in the first half of the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 439 pages. It has a red cover with black lettering on the front and spine. It also has a dust cover which has a colour image of a man in late 18th century attire and a shield containing a yellow poppy. The dust cover is partly torn away. The book has 46 chapters. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Lyndoch Xmas 1937’lyndoch, florence lake, history of warrnambool

This book was given as a prize to Dorothy Donalson who was a pupil at the Warrnambool State School. No. 1743. This school was opened in 1876 in Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, following the 1872 Education Act bringing free, secular and compulsory education to Victoria. Several other Government- sponsored primary schools that existed in Warrnambool in the early 1870s closed when the school in Jamieson Street opened. The school still operates today. The name, ‘Dorothy Donalson’ may be a spelling mistake and may be meant to be Dorothy Donaldson who was living in Derby Street, Warrnambool at that time. Her father Cyril and his brother had a timber yard in Raglan Parade.This book is an excellent example of the type of book given as a prize to school girls in Victoria in the 1930s. The author, May Wynne was a popular and prolific writer of the time. If the book belonged to a member of the Donaldson family, then this is of interest as the Donaldson timber business was a prominent one in Warrnambool at the time. This is a hard cover book of 255 pages. The cover is grey with black lettering on the front and the spine and an image of two schoolgirls in black and grey on the front cover. The book also has a dust cover with a multi-coloured image of the same two schoolgirls on the front cover. The dust cover has been reinforced with white paper pasted on the inside of the cover. The name plate is blue-coloured and has an ornamental edging with the information handwritten in black ink. The book contains 18 chapters and has a full-page black and white illustration at the front of the book.‘S.S. No. 1743 Warrnambool Presented to Dorothy Donalson, First Prize, Grade V11 Girls, 1934’ warrnambool state school, dorothy donaldson

This is a reader produced for schools in Victoria in 1909. It contains many simple fables and stories and some phonetic instruction at the beginning of the short articles. It has no specific Australian content. The inscription includes the name ‘Stanley Bell’. There were several Bell families in the Wangoom area early in the 20th century, including one teacher associated with the Wangoom State School. Stanley Bell may have belonged to one of these families. Walter Davies had a book shop in Timor Street, Warrnambool from the late 19th century and three generations of the Davies family were proprietors of this shop over the years. This book is of educational and social interest as an example of the readers used by primary school children in the early 20th century. This is a soft cover book of 80 pages. The cover is brown with black printing. The pages are partly torn across and very tattered. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil and there is some scribble on the first pages. The text has many black and white illustrations. There is a blue stamp of Walter Davies, the Warrnambool bookseller, on the first page. ‘Stanley J. Bell, Warrumyea, Wangoom’ ‘Walter Davies, Bookseller, Warrnambool’ walter davies, stanley bell

This book was written by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), a famous and influential English Protestant preacher who attracted a great following in the 19th century, not only in England, but throughout the British Empire and U.S.A. He reached the masses by producing many religious tracts, costing one penny, and publishing his sermons and his John Ploughman books with their simple homilies. These books were sub-titled ‘Plain Talk for Plain People’ with the copy we have being the second in the series labelled ‘140th thousand’ and published in 1892, the year of Spurgeon’s death. It appears that Spurgeon’s books were in many a home in Warrnambool in the 19th century. This book is of great interest as one which was familiar to many residents of Warrnambool and district in the 19th century. Charles Spurgeon was apparently widely known to Warrnambool residents in the 19th century. The Warrnambool Examiner newspaper frequently carried news items about Spurgeon’s eloquent preaching and the crowds he was drawing. It also published some of his sermons from time to time and reported at length his final illness and death. One of the unidentified photograph albums in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society contains a photograph of Charles Spurgeon and his wife. This is a book of 158 pages with some of the pages missing at the end. The book is coverless and held together with string and a piece of glued paper. The text has 38 short instructional articles with many black and white illustrations. The first and last pages are torn and almost detached. history of warrnambool

This school exercise book belonged to Philip Ridgway Le Couteur, Warrnambool’s first Rhodes Scholar. Philip Le Couteur (1885-1958), the son of George Le Couteur, a Warrnambool chemist and Fanny Byron (nee Maling), began his schooling at Middle Park State School and continued it in Warrnambool at the Warrnambool Academy run by Richard Lawson and William Oakley. He matriculated at the age of 14 and completed an Arts degree at Melbourne University before studying first year medicine. At the university he excelled in sport – cricket, football and tennis. In 1908 he won the Rhodes Scholarship for Victoria and studied classics, classical history and philosophy at Oxford University. In 1913 he was appointed the foundation lecturer in Mental and Moral Philosophy at the University of Western Australia. Following this he was the Head Master at various secondary schools, including Methodist Ladies’ College for 11 years. This book is of great interest because it contains examples of the schoolwork of Warrnambool’s first Rhodes Scholar, Philip Le Couteur.This is a school exercise book of 40 pages. The cardboard cover is a mottled blue and red colour with brown binding. All the pages have handwritten school work including dictation, arithmetic, spelling, map work, grammar and composition. The pages are detached from the cover and the cover is partly torn away and bent. The cover has some sketches drawn presumably by the owner of the book Philip Le Couteur. ‘P. Le Couteur, commenced 22nd November 1898, Sixth Class, Warrnambool School.’rhodes scholars, philip le couteur

This book belonged to Fletcher Jones and was later part of the library at the Fletcher Jones Factory Complex in Warrnambool. Fletcher Jones was a prominent Warrnambool businessman who established a men’s clothing shop in Warrnambool in the 1920s and a factory in Warrnambool in the 1940s. He extended this business Australia-wide and later included women’s clothing. He was noted for his philanthropy and for his interest in co-operative management and the participation of staff in the ownership of the business. This book is significant because it reflects the personal philosophies of Fletcher Jones who was a prominent Warrnambool businessman who advocated the participation of staff in the ownership of businesses. The Fletcher Jones business was important in Australia for over 50 years and played a key part in the economic development of Warrnambool in the second half of the 20th century as the city’s largest manufacturing business. Fletcher Jones was a significant person in Warrnambool in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 114 pages. It has nine chapters and a bibliography. The cover is red with gold and black lettering and part of the title embedded into the cover. There is a stamp of the Fletcher Jones business and an embossed one of Fletcher Jones’ home address. There is also evidence of library use. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Fletcher Jones & Staff Pty Ltd’ ‘Fletcher Jones, 2/7/44’ ‘Fletcher Jones, Raloda, 72 Jamieson St. Warrnambool’ fletcher jones, fletcher jones and staff pty ltd, history of warrnambool

This is a school reader used in the 1890s by Maggie Glasgow at Wangoom State School. This school opened in 1865 on the Warrnambool/ Wangoom Road as a Common School but it is now closed. Maggie Glasgow is probably Margaret Glasgow (1880-1954), the daughter of John and Esther Glasgow who were dairy farmers and cheese makers at Blackwood Hill, Wangoom. Jean Glasgow was the daughter of William and Isabella Glasgow who lived in the same area. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection examples of the Glasgow butter moulds. This book is of interest as an early school reader for Victorian children. Used in the 1890s this book has some Australian content. The Glasgow children that used this book are members of the Glasgow families important at the turn of the 19th century as cheese makers in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 400 pages. Several pages are missing. The cover is dark blue with ornamental patterning on the front and embossed lettering. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. The inscriptions and other written material have been handwritten in black ink and pencil. The pages are partly detached from the binding. ‘Maggie Glasgow, State School No. 645 Wangoom, 31/5/95’ (written twice) ‘Jean Glasgow’ ‘Dear old Mag’ ‘Isie wants a half holiday because L.W. got 20 for English’ maggie glasgow, jean glasgow, history of warrnambool

This is an illustrated history of New Zealand. Since the foundation of Warrnambool in 1847 up to the present day there has been regular and important contact between the people of Warrnambool and New Zealand. In the 19th and early 20th centuries many people in Warrnambool moved either temporarily or permanently to New Zealand for marriage or economic reasons. Some residents of Warrnambool and district were involved in the Maori Wars and there was regular shipping between the two places with much timber imported from New Zealand, especially for the McGennan butter box factory and for building purposes (e.g. St. Joseph’s Church). The builder of theWarrnambool Breakwater, Arthur Dudley Dobson, came to Warrnambool after having practised his surveying and engineering skills in New Zealand (South Island – Trans Alpine Railway etc). This book is very useful for research into the Warrnambool/New Zealand connection, especially in the 19th century. There is information in this book on Arthur Dudley Dobson who was important in the history of both Warrnambool and New Zealand. This is a hard cover book of 488 pages. The cover is green with gold lettering on the front and spine. There is also a dust cover with a brown and green background with gold and green lettering and sepia-coloured photographs on the front and back covers. The book has illustrations from the Alexander Turnbull Library, an introduction, ten chapters of text, notes, glossary, bibliography and index. new zealand, arthur dudley dobson, history of warrnambool

This recipe book has been compiled by Mrs W. Moffatt to raise funds for the Wickliffe Hall Improvement Fund (1915). Wickliffe is a small town in Western Victoria situated on the banks of the Hopkins River on the Glenelg Highway 100 kilometres from Warrnambool. Jessie Moffatt (nee McLellan) married William Moffatt in 1885 and died in 1938. William Moffatt leased the Berrambool Estate near Wickliffe in 1893, bought it in 1903 and the Moffatts lived there until their deaths in the 1930s. This recipe book is of interest because of its social history, telling us what recipes were popular in the early 1900s and the use made of a recipe book to raise funds for local community funds. The book is also of interest because it is an example of the voluntary work done by a woman in the Western District in the early 20th century. The book is also of interest because the names of some of those who contributed the recipes are listed and many of them have local connections. The Warrnambool names listed include Williams and McCormick. This is a soft cover book of 149 pages. The cover is grey with dark blue lettering and some ornamental patterning. The book contains over 1400 recipes and many advertisements for businesses in Victoria at the back and front of the book. There are two loose sheets of paper with recipes. The binding has come apart and has been loosely mended with adhesive tape. The cover and some of the pages are a little tattered. jessie and william moffatt of berrambool, history of warrnambool

This exercise book has been used by Winnifred (Winnie) Goodall in 1916 when she was a pupil at the Warrnambool Technical School. The material in the book mostly consists of letter-writing practice for business purposes. The Goodalls were pioneer settlers in the Warrnambool district with William and Ellen Goodall arriving in the area in the late 1840s. Eventually they had a property named Wanstead on the Allansford Road in East Warrnambool. One son, William, was an early manager of the Framlingham Aboriginal Settlement. Another son, Thomas, was a Warrnambool law clerk and Winnie, (born 1901 to mother Leah), was his granddaughter. The Warrnambool Technical School was established in 1913.This exercise book is of interest as an example of school work completed by a Warrnambool Technical School student in 1916. It is also of interest because it belonged to Winnie Goodall, a member of an important pioneering family in the Warrnambool district. This is a school exercise book with a cardboard cover and 17 double pages. The cover has a mottled pattern of brown and mauve and the pages have been attached by metal staples but the staples have been removed. The pages have blue ruled lines with handwritten material in blue and black ink. Some of the pages have red hand-drawn lines. The cover is slightly torn. On the first page two cartoon sketches from a newspaper have been pasted in. The front cover has a printed label in blue and white colouring pasted on, with handwritten information on the label. ‘Exercise Book Written by Winnie Goodall, Commenced 9th February 1916’. winnifred goodall goodall families, warrnambool warrnambool technical school.

This plate was made by the Calyx Porcelain and Paint Company which was based in Western Australia and made china for commercial establishments from the 1920s to the 1990s when the company was then known as Australian Fine China. The plate was used by the Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company based in Port Fairy. It was founded in 1882 and operated two ships, the Casino and the Bellinger, servicing the Western Ports between Melbourne and Portland. The Casino was wrecked at Apollo Bay in 1932. Later the company operated the ship, Dawn and survived as a shipping company until the late 1930s.This plate is of interest because it was used by the Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company in the 1920s and 30s. This company was important in the maritime history of Warrnambool, especially in the transportation of potatoes from the Warrnambool region. The Casino, the most important ship operated by the Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company, was also important as a passenger and cargo ship prominent in Warrnambool’s maritime historyThis is a circular-shaped cream soup bowl or dinner plate. On the edge of the plate there is a blue embedded stamp in the shape of a circle with the flag of the steamship company inside. On the base of the plate is the maker’s information in green print. The base of the plate is much crazed and discoloured‘Belfast & Koroit S.N. Co. Ltd.’ ‘Made in Australia, Calyx, W.A.’ belfast & koroit steam navigation company, history of warrnambool

This soda syphon is a device for dispensing carbonated or soda water. It was also called a Seltzer bottle. The design of soda syphons used in the 20th century was first created in the late 1830s and these bottles were especially popular in the 1920s and 30s. This Sparklets Company syphon was probably made in England but the company was manufacturing also in U.S.A. and Europe. This syphon has no known provenance but it could have been used in a hotel or a cordial factory in Warrnambool or district. This soda syphon is of interest as an example of how soft drinks were dispensed 90 to 100 years ago. It will be useful for display.This is a heavy glass bottle with a heavy base. It has a metal mesh over the bottle with a metal (or material) red band around the bottle three-quarters of the way up from the bottom. The mechanisms for filling and siphoning at the top are made of metal (these include a funnel and two handles). Attached to the top and inside the bottle is a tube for syphoning. Directions for use are printed on the lid. ‘Sparklets’ ‘Admit gas slowly and shake vigorously’ Important. Do not fill the bottle above the red line’. sparklets company, soda syphon bottle, warrnambool

These two serving dishes or tureens have been made by the English firm of Myott, Son & Co. early in the 20th century (Art Nouveau design). Ashley Myott established the business in 1898 and later his brother joined the business. In 1976 the firm merged with the Alfred Meakin Company but today it is owned by the Churchill Pottery Group. The dishes have no known local provenance. These dishes are kept because they are attractive items in good order and examples of the type of dishes bought for use in the more affluent households early in the 20th century They will be useful for display purposes These are two identical china serving dishes with lids. The bases of the dishes are circular with the bowl section having twelve-sided edges and two handles with black patterns. The tops of the bowl have two black lines around the edges with two ornamental patterns in red, grey and black on the top edges. The lids also have twelve sided edges and have the same black lines, four of the coloured designs and handles with black patterning. On the bases are a gold-coloured crown with the maker’s details. ‘Myott, Son & Co. Ltd.’ myott & co, art nouveau, warrnambool, art nouveau serving dishes

This item, always known as a ‘Chinese Puzzle,’ has been in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society for many years. It is such an oddity that it is probable that it came from the collection of the old Warrnambool Museum which was established in the 1870s-80s and was dismantled in the 1960s. It had many objects of a bizarre nature such as this as many local people while on their travels brought back from many different countries objects deemed to be of unusual interest. This item is of great interest as an oddity from the 19th century and it attracts great attention when it is displayed. This is a spherical-shaped imperial quart thick glass bottle with a cork in the top. It contains a clear liquid filling two-thirds of the bottle. Inside the bottle and filling it to the top of its main section are several pieces of metal of varying shapes. These originally were part of a puzzle, presumably with the object being to unlock the shapes from each other. These have now been connected to each other with what looks like thin wire. The liquid is still reasonably clear. The cork is a little worn at the top. ‘Imperial Quart’chinese puzzle, warrnambool

This box was produced by the Henderson business to hold half a pound of chocolates for sale to the Australian public. The box is a souvenir one, with the image of George V of England on the lid. This suggests that the box was produced perhaps to celebrate the coronation of George V in 1910. He reigned until his death in 1936.This box is of interest as a souvenir item sold in Australia and dating back to the early years of the 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a white rectangular cardboard box with the base extended on all sides about half a centimetre out from the base. The box has a white cardboard cover which has a top with a navy blue background, a Union Jack, the six stars of the Southern Cross (making the Australian flag) with an image of King George V of England. The lettering on the top of the box is in gold print. The cover completely encloses the box. Inside the box are the remnants of a white lace-pattern paper used to line the box. There is a trace of silverfish damage on the side of the box and the edges of the box are a little crumpled. “Henderson’s ‘Australia’ Box, Chocolates ½ lb. Nett.”henderson chocolates

This ash tray is a souvenir of the Olympic Games held in Melbourne in 1956. This was an important event in post World War Two Australia and the first time the Olympic Games had been held in the Southern Hemisphere. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the athletics events and some other events were held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. These were the first televised Olympic Games. To mark the occasion many souvenir items were produced for tourists and collectors.This item is kept as a memento of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, an event that interested and affected all Australians as it made Melbourne and Australia via press and television coverage etc. the centre of attention in the world at the time. It is also a memento that would no longer be made or sold today as cigarette smoking in general is no longer socially and medically acceptable. It will be useful for display.This is a plastic circular ash tray. It has a blue base with a multi-coloured image in the centre of the base of a map of Australia, an Olympic Games torch and the Olympic Games ring motifs. The printing is in white and the name of the maker is embossed on the back of the tray. There are three indents around the base for stubbing out the cigarettes. ‘Olympic Games Melbourne Australia 22 Nov. - 8 Dec. 1956’ ‘British Plastics Pty Ltd Melbourne Reg. Des.’ olympic games melbourne, 1956 olympics

This boot belonged to Thomas Rome and may have been either an apprentice’s model or a display item in his boot and shoe shop or both. Thomas James Rome (1873-1974) worked in John Younger’s store in Beechworth before both came to Warrnambool in 1888. Rome worked in Younger’s store in Liebig Street, Warrnambool for 17 years and then established his own boot and shoe store at 115 Liebig Street in 1907, retiring in 1962. He married Amelia Saltau and they lived at Murweh at the corner of Liebig and Princess Streets, Warrnambool. Thomas Rome is mostly remembered today for his purchase and use of an Edison phonograph machine in the late 1890s and the sound recordings he made with this machine at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. These recordings were found intact after Rome’s death and are regarded as the earliest sound recordings still surviving in Australia today. This sample boot is of great significant as an example of the bootmaker’s art in the early 20th century and as a memento of Thomas Rome, important in Warrnambool’s history as a businessman and in the history of sound recording in Australia. This is a small sample black leather boot (probably a lady’s boot). It has double ridged stitching across the instep with a soft leather upper part and stitching separating the soft leather section from the smooth leather. The right side of the boot has seven button holes and seven buttons attached with metal clips. The sole is leather with a small heel and the name of the owner stamped on the sole. ‘10’ ‘T.J.Rome’ thomas rome, history of warrnambool, antique lady's boot, leather boot vintage

A courting chain was carved by a man and given to the girl he was courting. This was a common European practice in the past, with Welsh courting chains surviving from the 17th century, though the practice may have gone back even further than that. The chain indicated that man was a capable artisan and was occupying his hands in a healthy way, particularly when the lady was present. The many types of loops and chains carved all had symbolic meanings. The cage with the wooden balls inside was said to indicate the desire of the man for children and the number he would like. The symbolism of the arm and hand with the two digits touching is not known. This courting chain has no known local provenance but it is an interesting object as an example of the customs of the past. It will be useful for displays. This is a wooden carved courting chain. One end is in the shape of an arm and hand with the thumb and first finger touching at the tips. Then there are three chains linked to the arm with a peg inserted into another loop at the end. Next, joined to this, is another loop attached to a wooden cage which has two wooden balls inside. The chain is finished with a carved turret structure at the end. courting chains, history of warrnambool

This note-pad and holder perhaps belonged to Jessie Bell whose name is written on the first page. There are several entries on the pages and the dates range from 1908 to 1929. The entries include references to a Banquet for Mr J. Duffus, Purnim, 1912, Jack Ross’ Wedding Party, Dennington, 1912, R.J. Jones’ Dance, Woolshed, 1928 and Leila Jenkins’ 21st Birthday Party, 1928. This notebook and holder is of interest because it is an example of the type of appointment book used by the more affluent in the early 20th century. This is a heavily-embossed silver note-pad holder with a hinged lid on the front and clips at the side to hold a pencil. The writing material inside the pencil is missing. The back of the holder has a blank space in the middle where a name can be inscribed. At the top of the holder is a ring, holding a chain with an ornamented clip at the end. This enables the holder and pad to be hooked over a belt or lapel. Inside the holder are fifty paper pages on which to write appointments or notes. The pages are gilt-paged. The paper contains several notes handwritten in pencil re dances, parties etc. First Page: ‘Jessie A. Bell, Warrumyea, Wangoom, Warrnambool’ jessie bell, appointment book, warrnambool history