This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1942 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. 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. The Novels of Jane Austen Vol 5 - 3rd Edition Northanger Abbey 1818 and Persuasion 1818 Edited by R W Chapman, Publisher: Oxford University Press Date: 1946Label on spine cover with typed text PAT FIC AUS Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the novels of jane austen vol 5, r w chapman

Book prize awarded to David Wilson (1885) for excellence in conduct and general proficiency. Book donated back to school after purchase in a junk shop. Handwritten inscription reveals details of family tree. Significant to the school social history because it was awarded by F J Thomas who led the school for a brief period during 1874 - 1875 and left under undignified circumstances (see Mein's history p. 19). Small calf bound novel with gold detailing on covers and spine; college crest embossed on front cover; marbled endpapers; colour frontispiece with interleave; book plate on front cover verso.Book plate inside front cover: College crest / Prize / for / Good conduct and general proficiency / awarded to / D Wilson / Second class / Chrostmas 1874 / F J Thomas BA, Principal. Handwritten inscription on back of title page: To Alexander (Lal) Wilson (my Godson) from your Uncle Alex Wilson as a keepsake from your father David Wilson, who pressed me to take a book from the first collection of books acquired from your grandfather David Wilson of the (?) Hall Hotel, Armstrong St Ballarat. But as (?) knew he had attended this school and that it was his own merited book received as a prize. I took it in preference to any other of the (?) books he offered me. This gift (/) just previous to his passing away and it was the last time I was priveledged (sic) to see him alive. It might interest you and yours to know that he died as a Christian Gentleman. I have that on the word of the Rev Frank (Menzies?), presbyterian Minister. Being sent by favour of Stewart Wilson. f-j-thomas, ballarat-college. book-prize, 1874, david-wilson

Hardcovernovel, 19th century literature, walsh st library

fictionA souvenir of the film Eureka Stockade starring Chips Rafferty, Peter Finch and others, distributed by British Empire Films Pty Ltd in 1949.eureka stockade, ballarat, novel

A navy blue hardcover novel, The Old Helmet by Elizabeth Wetherell. The gold title is printed in a recessed rectangle on the front cover with Cole's Favourite Library embossed at the bottom. The title and publisher are in gold on the spine.fictionA story of Eleanor a lost soul seeking her creator. She finds love and her faith.fiction, books, religious stories

brown hardcover novel with an ornate blue linear design on the front cover and spine and the title Amos Truelove by C.R. Parsons. Author of 'The man with the White Hat', etc. The publisher Kelly is on the spine. 240p.fictionA story of a young woman who comes into a significant inheritance and is met with suitors whom she is not too interested in apart from Amos Truelove. Religious themes throughout.religious stories, friendship stories, romance

Charco Harbour, a novel of Cook's first voyage to Australia, by Godfrey Blunden, hard cover with dust jacket, 401 pages published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson London, printed by Wilmer Brothers Ltd Birkenhead. Name H Curnow, 23.10.70 is inside the front cover.australia, history, captain cook

This certificate, drawn in a very elegant hand, contains the biographical information of Wilfred Busse. It is assumed to be a funeral or memorial card. Born in Chiltern in 1898, Wilfred Clarence Busse was educted at Wesley College and then the University of Melbourne. He became a barrister and through his time at the University of Melbourne studied with future Chief Justice and Governor of Victoria Sir Henry Arthur Winneke (1908–1985), as well as spending time in the chanbers of Sir Leo Finn Bernard Cussen (1859-1933), who was a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Busse also wrote two novels, 'The Blue Beyond' and 'The Golden Plague'. In 1931, 'The Golden Plague' was awarded the T. E. Rofe gold medal by the Henry Lawson Literary Society for its ''its vivid scenes of the Ovens River [gold] rushes, in the early [eighteen] fifties".Ivory rectangular certificate with rounded corners made of thick paper with inked writing and two small photographs mountedObverse: Wilfred Clarence Busse/ 1898 – 1960 / Barrister and Author / Born in Chiltern. Educated at Melbourne / University. Studied Law with former Governor / of Victoria Sir Henry Winneke. In 1928 / published his first novel, “The Blue Beyond”. / In 1930 published “The Golden Plague” for / Which he was awarded the Henry Lawson / Literary Society’s Gold Medal. / Wilfred Busse was a member of the Chiltern / Athenaeum. He valued the historical works / In the library. / wilfred busse, wilfred clarence busse, wilfred c. busse, busse, w.c. busse, "the golden plague: a romance of the early fifties.", "the blue beyond, henry lawson society, chiltern, chiltern athenaeum, chiltern athenaeum museum, sir henry arthur winneke, sir leo finn bernard cussen, funeral card, memorial card

Three pages handwritten document of what looks like an early draft of a short story or novel set in the Australian bush. Probably written by John Ellison in the 1940s. Part of the Aileen and John Ellison collection.australiana, native bush, draft, short story

Tan coloured floral fabric hardcover novel, Mildred's Boys and Girls by Martha Finley (Martha Farquharson) with black lettering for title and author. Spine has title, author and publisher in black lettering and a coloured flower.fictionA family story of Mildred's life with her children and husband set in the time of the Civil War in America. The Landreths harbour a family of fugitive slaves and fear the possibility of sending fathers, sons brothers and cousins off to fight. Strong religious themes throughout.family life fiction, civil war united states, children's fiction, religious fiction

Schoolgirls' novelHardback, 238 p., col. frontispiece, with dust jacket."Shirley Black, Hillboro' Park, Grimshaw Street, Bundoora. 1952." "Methodist Sunday School, Greensborough. Awarded to Shirley Black for Second prize. R. Willett Supt., R. WhitbournSec. 1952."shirley black

Victorian novel Brown & green marbelled board cover hardback book. Black leather spine & corners. Corners worn through to board, leather spine torn and detached from body of book. Back cover completely detached. Five illustrations. 274 pp. Poor condition.On flyleaf, '24' crossed out. '96' handwritten in red ink and underlined. '54' stamped.adult fiction, kilmore mechanics institute library.

Blue book in good faded condition of paper and cardboard coversOn the spine is the name of the book in gold writing with dark oliptical marking with gold stars in the top and bottomjohn winton novel companion book club, companion, novel, navy

Hardcover w/ Dust jacketfiction, novel, australian literature, walsh st library

Novel based on facts surrounding the author's grandparents, Ringwood residents Gordon and Cherry Parker, focusing on their marriage in post-war Japan and social and beauratic difficulties surrounding their move to Australia as a family, with Cherry as Australia's first Japanese war bride.

Schoolgirl's novel of the 1950sHardback, 221 p., illus."Shirley M. Black, "Hillboro' Park", Grimshaw Street, Bundoora. From: Mum 20.4.1954.shirley black

Novel. Colonial Edition.Green cloth-covered hardback book. Title & author printed in gilt on front cover & spine. Decorative embossed design on rear cover. Cover worn at corners with some staining on front. Binding loose, front cover has detached from body. 270 pp. Fair condition.'1214' underlined on flyleaf.adult fiction, kilmore mechanics institute library.

Republication of a novel first published by Hurst & Blackett, London, 1864. The novel is of interest in its depiction of Victorian society of the time, in particular the rights of impoverished young female immigrants.420 p., paperback.Ownership label: M.L. & L. J. Guenther on preliminary page.australian literature

On the front of the dust cover is an illustration of an old man sitting on a bench outside an aviary smoking a pipe and there is a bird sitting on his shoulder. He is talking to two children. On the back of the dust cover is the blurbs of two other novels written by C. K. Thompson.fictionA book that is part of a series of Australian Nature Stories by C.K. Thompson.australia, nature, birds, c.k. thompson, fiction, old bob

Washdirt - a novel of Old Bendigo. A short history of the 'Roaring Fifties' on the Bendigo Goldfields. It contains a letter from Judith McCarthy to Mrs Newell. A handwritten notations inside givesk the name and address of Mr L. J. Newell, including his phone number.James Devaneybendigo, history, city history. the goldfields.

An example of an earlier style Children's book presented to a Sunday School boy aged 8 in 1902. Children's books of that time were often full of moral teaching for the young. George Benjamin Anstey (Uncle of Joyce Suto) was lost in W.W.1Book - Novel - 'Bel's Baby' x Mary E Ropes.Faded blue linen (cloth) covering. Inscription on front piece. Cover & spine need repairing. 96 pages. Inscription in front of book explaining who 'George Benjamin Anstey' was, as noted on History.Rogret Sunday School|George Anstey from Archdeacon & Mrs Bruce|Christmas 1902books, children's, novels