Historical information provided by state water, road, and metrological and local government authorities and local residents' reminicences of the Yarra River at Warrandyte. Includes table showing periodic significant flows of the river between 1863 and 1985.

Newspaper clipping

Extract Local residents often had to provide their own school. These men with a little help from their offspring, are pulling down the Old East Warburton School to make way for a new one. Page 73, " The Upper Yarra An Illustrated History" by Brian Carroll, The Shire of Upper Yarra, 1988Warburton East, Primary School under construction Negative Black white Scanned at 600 dpi. Printed album presented to Upper Yarra Historical Society, compiled by R. Crowleyschool, east warburton

Clifton Banks is the name given to a bank on the Hopkins River Estuary, about one kilometre upstream from Proudfoots Boathouse. It is at the foot of the property, Clifton, which dates from 1850s. There are several works of art and photographs of Clifton Banks dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mary Norman (later known as Mary Norman=Bail) came to Warrnambool in 1901, residing with Canon and Mrs McGeorge. She studied art with Samuel Pearce Fuller and later taught art at Fuller's studio and at a local private school. She produced several seascapes and landscapes while she was in Warrnambool, leaving the town in 1905. She devoted the rest of her life to art as an artist and teacher. In 1922 she married Jess Bail. This art work of Clifton Banks won first prize at the 1902 Annual Ararat Art competitions. It was reported at the time that the work was not a copy but had been drawn from nature. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has five of Mary Norman-Bail's art work.This is a most significant item as it is one of Mary Norman's art works and she was known in the early 20th century as a competent artist and a member of the Victorian Artists' Society. This art work also has historical significance as one of a number of Clifton Banks representations still surviving. Mary Norman also had an impact on the cultural life of Warrnambool during her short stay in the town. She also returned to teach in the town several times for short periods during the summer vacation times.This is a water colour mounted on art board and with a gilt framed and three outer layers of wooden gilded ornamental frames. The sides of the frames are broken in places and the guided material is somewhat discoloured. There are Les O'Callaghan handwritten notes and some typed material on the back giving information on Mary Norman and the art work. The back is sealed with pasted paper and there are both string and wire attached for hanging the pictureBack of art work: 'Diamond Bros, Photo Enlargers, Importers of Mouldings, Mounting Boards, Albums, Mirrors etc, Picture Framers. Mount Cutters and Plush Workers, Studio - 27 Bridge Road, Melbourne, Factory- 45 and 47 Duke Street, Richmond, Armstrong Street, Ballarat, Pirie Street, Adelaide, Brisbane, & Freemantle W.A.'mary norman, clifton banks, warrnambool

This is a tape of broadcast material from the procession of the Warrnambool Florado Festival in 1960. The Florado Festival was a week of festivities held in Warrnambool in the second week of March with the aim of advancing local art, culture, education and recreational activities. The Festivals were held in the 1950s and 60s. This tape is of some importance to researchers and others interested in the 1950s and 60s Florado festivals. They were a good example of the popularity in Australia of these types of festivals during those decades.This is a blue cassette tape (C120) designed to be played in a cassette machine.C120, BASF, unbespielt, unrecorded, vierge, 2 X 60 min., LH, Made in Germany. White sticker with ‘W’Bool Florado, 1960’warrnambool, florado procession

This is a CD of broadcast material from the procession of the Warrnambool Florado Festival in 1960. The Florado Festival was a week of festivities held in Warrnambool in the second week of March with the aim of advancing local art, culture, education and recreational activities. The Festivals were held in the 1950s and 60s.This CD is of some importance to researchers and others interested in the 1950s and 60s Florado festivals. There were a good example of the popularity in Australia of these types of festivals held during those decades. This is a Compact Disc Re-Writable 700B, made in Taiwan.On disc – 3YB Broadcast 1960 Florado Procession Warrnanmbool On back of paper accompanying the disc – 3YB Florado Procession Broadcast 1960 On front of paper – TDK, 700 MB, CD-RW80, CD-RW, CD – Re-Writable, 4 x Multi Speed Compatible, Compact Disc Rewritableflorado festivals warrnambool, 3yb

The Premier towns is an award given by the Victorian state Government. It recognises positive actions by regional communities to protect and enhance their local environment. It is based on criteria relating to litter prevention and waste management, environmental and heritage management as well as activities among community groups and leadership. The following is taken from Hansard at the announcement of the awards in 1988 That the Senate- (a) congratulates the Mayor, Councillors, the Premier Town Committee, and the people of the City of Warrnambool, Victoria, for their achievement, on Saturday, 20 November 1988, in taking out the Victorian `Premier Town Award' for an unprecedented third time; (b) congratulates the business people of Warrnambool for their efforts in helping the city to win the Victorian Industrial and Commercial Development Award, including a special award for coastline preservation and studies This album is significant in that it documents an important award to the City of Warrnambool. It is also a comprehensive pictorial record of Warrnambool as it was in 1988.Volume 2. Covers Warrnambool rivers, bridges, coastal features, places of learning, clubs and sporting facilities and historical and general interest all of which have played an important role in the development of and history of the city and lives of its people.Soft brown vinyl cover with plastic cover. Pages are dark cream cover paper. A sticker with the Warrnambool Premier Town logo is inside the front cover. The album consists of photographs of various buildings and streetscapes with relevant descriptive text.Sticker inside front cover, Mr J Gietz Po Box 1007 Warrnambool Vic 3280. warrnambool, ideal town 1988-1991, victoria’s bicentennial premier town premier town awards

The compiler of this book, Carol Altmann, was born in Warrnambool and worked as a journalist for some years. She is the author of two other books and co-founder of the online magazine, Bluestone Magazine. ‘Warrnambool -This is home’ contains colour photographs of people and places that are favourites with the local residents. Some of them, such as the Aquarium, are no longer existing. This book is of some importance as it records the people and buildings that are well-known in the city and evoke fond memories for both those who live in the city and those who have moved away. As such, it is an important social and historical recordThis is a paper back book of 64 pages. The cover has a blue background with an image of the angel from the War Memorial on the front cover and a photograph of the author, Carol Altmann on the back cover. The pages are bound with glue and contain colour photographs of places in Warrnambool and an accompanying text for each. Front cover: ‘Warrnambool – This is home, Carol Altmann’ Back Cover: Biographical details of Carol Altmann carol altmann, warrnambool this is my home

The Volunteers Air Observers was formed in 1941 with the aim of observing aircraft flying over Australia. There were over 24000 civilians volunteering their services and as the military threat to Australia subsided they took on roles as coast and weather watching. This photograph shows a group of local volunteers at their work. Mrs. S Hamilton, Mrs. J Lees, F/O E F English, Mrs. R Picton, Mr. Ralph Barnes and Miss S McDonaldA local item which relates to an organization which operated around Australia in the 1940’s. Small newspaper cutting with photograph with six people around a table. Text is underneath the photo. The back has an advertisement for Fletcher Jones clothingThe picture shows a control room manned by volunteer personnel. Here the plotters are marking positions of aircraft with symbols on a map of the surrounding district while the Teller in the raised chair sends reports on to the Air Force, which thus has a check of all planes left to right Mrs. S Hamilton, Mrs. J Lees, F/O E F English, Mrs. R Picton, Mr. Ralph Barnes and Miss S McDonald volunteer air observers corps,, volunteer air observers corps,, mrs. s hamilton,, mrs. j lees,, f/o e f english, mrs. r picton, mr. ralph barnes, miss s mcdonald warrnambool

The port facilities in Warrnambool Bay were in constant use from the first years of Warrnambool’s settlement but there were also difficulties for the shipping trade – a small and unsafe anchorage, the lack of loading facilities and little natural protection from the southerly gales. From the 1870s on there was local agitation for some sort of Breakwater to be built and an Andrew Kerr design was approved by the Warrnambool Council but no funds were made available from the Victorian Government. Throughout the 1870s the building of a Breakwater was a major political issue in the district with preliminary work being funded and started in 1874. In 1879 the Government agreed to a further inspection of the area and an official report. Sir John Coode (1816-1892) was commissioned to make this report. He had come to Australia in 1872 to advise on harbour construction. Coode recommended a 1800 feet long Breakwater and wharf connected to the shore and it was this proposal that the plan described herein and drawn up in 1879 was to accompany. The original plan was eventually modified because of the cost and a Breakwater was completed in 1890 under the direction of the engineer, Arthur Dudley Dobson, with extensions early in the 20th century. This plan is of great interest as it shows in simple graphic form the original plans proposed by Sir John Coode for the Warrnambool Breakwater. It is therefore of great historical importance. The Breakwater was not the maritime success that it was hoped it would be but it is today a significant feature of our foreshore. This is a Plan drawn up in 1879 by Victorian Harbours to accompany Sir John Coode’s Report on the proposed Warrnambool Breakwater. The chart detail is hand-drawn and hand-tinted on canvas with the names of places, geographical and marine features and local points of interest added in print. The edges of the chart are rubbed and the chart is somewhat faded and dirty but the main colours of red, green and brown are still clearly discernible. The title of the plan is printed in an oval inset at the top of the chart. The plan shows two possible Breakwater designs, one from the Borough Surveyor (Andrew Kerr?) and one from Sir John Coode.Victorian Harbours Warrnambool Plan to accompany Sir John Coode’s report Dated 28th Feby 1879 warrnambool breakwater, andrew kerr, sir john coode, arthur dudley dobson, warrnambool, warrnambool harbour, warrnambool history, warrnambool beach

This is a hard cover book with a cream and sepia-coloured paper cover and a dark red hard cover with gold lettering. There are 392 pages, including an indexnon-fictionHistory of the Wallace family of Nullawarre and the Burleigh family of Cudgeewallace family, burleigh family, mepunga, oliver wallace, thomas wallace, eliza burleigh, warrnambool history, fermanagh history, cudgee

This book is the second series of recipes collated by the Christ Church Ladies’ Guild, the first collection having been published the previous year, 1911. The preface is written by C J Bennett, President of the Ladies’ Guild. The Guild raised funds towards projects at the Church.It has local significance being produced by a local firm. It also contains the names of a large number of people who were part of the Christ Church Parish at the time.Fawn coloured cover with black lettering. Title in rectangular frame with scroles at the top. Bruce and McClure advertisement on back cover. It contains index at the front of the book and the book contains recipes collected from various people. 67 pages. Cloth spine binding.Compiled by the Ladies Guild, Christ Church Warrnambool.christ church ladies guild, c j bennett, christ church warrnambool, western district cookery book, warrnambool, c j martin

J S Rowley operated a cordial factory on the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets from the 1860’s through to the sale of the business in 1897. They produced a number of different products : cloves, kola champagne, ginger beer, lemonade, lithia water, hop beer, orange bitters to mention some. The brewery won a number of awards for its products over the years.A common item which was locally made with a strong link to a local business. 2 clear glass bottles with indented towards the top. Marble encased in neck region of bottle. Writing embossed in glass.D K marked in glass on bottom of bottle. J S Rowley Aerated Waters Warrnambool written in glass sideways on bottle. warrnambool, warrnambool history, warrnambool bottle, j s rowley brewery, brewery warrnambool, j s rowley cordial

These typed notes have been prepared by Tom Wicking to be used in conjunction with his collection of slides on local history. Tom Wicking was a noted local historian, particularly well-known in the 1970s and 80s. He was an early active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society and was involved in the establishment of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in the mid 1970s. He also produced a revised edition of the booklet containing notes on the origin of street names in Warrnambool. Wicking Place in Warrnambool is named after him.He died in the late 1990s. These notes and slides were part of Wicking’s deceased estate and have been de-acquisitioned from the Flagstaff Hill collection and passed to the Warrrnambool and District Historical Society through the estate of Les O’Callaghan.These notes were for use in slide shows etc and have a limited use today as the historical information contained therein is continually being revised and technology has changed The slide material has been scanned and will be better utilized this way in a power point presentation etc. Typed sheets on aspects of Warrnambool and district history – note-book size (13 packs); quarto size (1 pack). warrnambool, tom wicking

The sea water baths were built in 1876 on the line of the railway track and were moved to the Gilles Street site with the advent of the railway. Salt water was drawn from the sea by a windmill and later by steam pump. The main pool was 100 feet by 50 feet. The present site of Heritage Works, the offices of the Warrnambool & District Society Inc. and Warrnambool Family History Group, is on the area of the Town of Warrnambool's Swimming Baths of 1890s. The Warrnambool seabaths have social and historical significance to the local area.Two sepia photographs depicting the baths. The top photo shows people in the pool with a large number of mainly men around the edge of the pool. The bottom photo depicts an empty pool. Mounted on dark cream card. Text between photos states, “ Swimming match Warrnambool Baths 1890.sea water baths warrnambool, sea water baths warrnambool photos, warrnambool history

The Nestle factory at Dennington was commenced in 1907 and proved to be a big boost to the local economy. The first product manufactured was sweetened condensed milk which began in 1911 and by 1944 was the largest plant in the Southern Hemisphere. They went on to produce Lactogen, full cream milk powder and in 1966 Milo and Nescafe. On average up to 650 people were employed. Nestle relinquished their link with the site when it was sold to Fonterra in 2005. A link to one of the longest established businesses in Warrnambool. Many people supplied milk and it employed many local people and as such has strong links to the district. White china cup with black transfer of Dennington factory and dates in black.Dennington factory 100 years 1911-2011nestle dennington, history of warrnambool, nestle milk products dennington

The Criterion Hotel was located on the western side of Kepler Street near the corner of Lava Street. John Tate of Woodford was the first licensee of the Criterion Hotel in 1873. The Humm family and the McGennan families were licensees for a considerable amount of time in the late 19th and 20th centuries. It was one of the last venues in the town to host live music. The last publican, John Palmer remembered it as a workers pub popular with local truckies and football clubs, in particular, Bushfield, Russell’s Creek and South Rovers. The Criterion closed in 2008 with the aim of turning it into office space but it was burnt beyond repair in 2010 and the remains were demolished in 2013.The Criterion Hotel was one of the earliest and longest licensed hotels in Warrnambool. As such it has local historical significance. The original building was an impressive landmark and the hotel itself has significant social importanceWhite plaster fragment with floral pattern enclosed within two plain borders. It is roughly five sided but edges are broken.criterion hotel, history of warrnambool, warrnambool hotels

The Red Cross was founded in the mid 19th century based on the ideas of Swiss business man Jean-Henri Dunant. The Australian organization was founded in September 1914 and the Warrnambool branch in October 1914. The Wangoom branch was formed at a later dateThis recipe book is of minor interest as an example of the production of a local volunteer group – Wangoom Red Cross. It will be useful for display.This is a 12 page booklet of six A4 folded and stapled pages. The printing is black on a white background and there are sketches related to cookery. This is a 12 page booklet of six A4 folded and stapled pages. The printing is black on a white background and there are sketches related to cookery. wangoom red cross, recipe books

This is a pocket first aid kit suitable for personal use – hikers, travellers, home and business areas. It contains items that may be of use in an emergency – a bandage, a finger burn dressing, boracic lint, self-adhesive plaster, safety pins, ointment, jelly for gauze dressings. The items in the tin would have been in common use in the 1930s and 40s. This item has no known local provenance but is of historical interest and may be useful for display.This is a metal tin with a yellow lid with red and white markings. Inside are eight items suitable for first aid use. There is also a sheet listing the original items. The tin is rusted in several placesfirst aid kit, warrnambool, cuxson, gerrard & co. ltd

This album contains a collection of family photos, greeting cards and hand drawn floral emblems. Among the photographs are two which have details on them: a young girl named Margaret Clarke aged 8 1870 and another of Charles Alexander Clarke. The photographers are from many places including Britain, Melbourne, Portland and a number by Daniel Clarke of Warrnambool. Daniel Clarke was one of Warrnambool’s more important photographers, operating a business for thirty years in the town. He also worked as an artist and taught art in local schools. He painted a number of versions of Tower Hill. He died in 1918 at the age of 91.This album shows a collection of photographs and cards which were important to families in the later part of the 19th century. It has artistic and historical significance, with the photographs in particular depicting many different styles of clothing and household details of the time. Brown leather with a figured pattern and gold detail. Bent metal clasp Back cover in cross-hatched pattern. Spine has 5 horizontal lines. Edges of pages are edged in gold. Pale grey water wave patterned paper inside front and back covers. Pages inside are varied with some having coloured floral embellishments while others have pockets to hold from 1 to 4 photographs or card. One photograph of young boy has Charles Alexander Clarke written on bottom in black pen. A card with illustration of honeysuckle on front, has With Love to Mrs. Smith from Isabel,warrnambool, history of warrnambool, margaret clarke aged 8 1870, charles alexander clarke 1870, daniel clarke photographer

The actual history of this object relating to Warrnambool is unknown at this stageSome photos have been identified as local people from WarrnamboolLeather bound. Brown. Engrave with Gold and Black. Ornate scrolled, embossed work on cover with The words The Colonial Family Album on the front, back and spine engraved. Metal locking clasp is broken. 23 pages. Binding in blue tape. Each page is highly decorated changing on each page, facing pages match each other, colours used are gold, red, blue, pink and green. Photos are taken mid 1870's to late 1880's by photographers from Melbourne, Portland & Ballarat. Sepia photos, 20 large frames of men & women, 20 small oval & round topped oblong frames. Collection of Women, Men, Teenagers and children. Each photo slides in from the bottom of frame through a small slot.album. photographs. photographers. ornate art work., warrnambool historical society

This album contains a number of local coastal and seascapes including Thunder Point, views of local streets such as Liebig and Fairy streets, panorama views of the town from Manse Hill and Booval Hill and the Botanic Gardens. Buildings included are Cramond and Dickson, St Joseph’s Church, the saleyards. The book itself would have been used by patrons of the Western Hotel when J Fox was licensee, from 1880 until 1887. The hotel had been operating since 1870 when William O’Brien applied for a publican’s license for the house on the corner of Timor and Kepler Streets with five sitting rooms and eight bedrooms. The stone building was designed by Andrew Kerr and built by Williams & Co. The Western Hotel was also the booking office for Cobb and Co Coaches which operated until the railway came to town in 1890. This album has historical significance on different levels. Firstly the photographs provide a view of Warrnambool in the late 19th century. The photos are aesthetically and artistically significant. Many of the buildings in the streetscapes are still recognizable. Secondly the Western Hotel has occupied a prominent site within the CBD for nearly 150 years. It has links to Cobb & Co, an important part of early Australian transport. Large hard covered album. Dark green cover with title in red rectangle on front cover. Text in gold lettering. A variety of photographs mounted on card.Chuck Photo Ballarat on front cover. Small cutting pasted inside front cover, reads as follows,” Will and Estates. Joseph Fox, late of Grosvenor Street, Balaclava who died on 29th July by his will of 11th August 1915 left 3737pounds real estate and 2342 pounds personality to relatives. warrnambool, warrnambool history, warrnambool photographs of the past, western hotel photographs

The Nestle factory at Dennington was commenced in 1907 and proved to be a big boost to the local economy. The first product manufactured was sweetened condensed milk which began in 1911 and by 1944 was the largest plant in the Southern Hemisphere. They went on to produce Lactogen, full cream milk powder and in 1966 Milo and Nescafe. On average up to 650 people were employed. Nestle relinquished their link with the site when it was sold to Fonterra in 2005. A relic from a significant part of Warrnambool’s history, industry and agriculture and a large number of long serving employees.Terracotta coloured six sided, one side flat and the reverse with raised bars. Material is either clay or concrete. Handwritten in pen, “from the floor of the Nestle Factory Dennington. warrnambool, dennington, nestle, condensed milk, nescafe, milo, lactogen.

This ledger contains outward correspondence from the Shire of Warrnambool, Engineer from the period November 1935 to September 1937. It covers matters such as bridges, roads noxious weeds, drainage. It contains areas such as Wangoom Nirranda, Childers Cove, Hopkins Falls, Panmure and local names such as Jenkins, Holloway, Delaney, Davidson, Digby, Bennett, Kruger, McDowall. This collection of letters provides a very good overview of issues and work covered in the period 1935-1937.Grey card cover with dark green binding. Alphabetical index at the front . Following pages are light pink paper and numbered 1-500, two to a page. Label inside front cover Arnall & Jackson, printers lithographers, bookbinders, publishers, Manufacturing Stationers, 428 Collins St Melbourne. Repeat Order No B 87970 ledger engineer's correspondence, 1935 -1937, shire of warrnambool, warrnambool

Warrnambool Legacy Club was founded in 1947; prior to that it was part of Geelong Legacy Club. It covers an area in South West Victoria bounded by Port Fairy in the west, Mortlake, Derrinallum and Lismore to the north, and Camperdown, Timboon and Port Campbell in the south and east. The Warrnambool Legacy Club has contributed to the welfare of widows and children of past soldiers. In turn it has relied upon the generosity of local organisations and people to maintain their work. The Shire of Warrnambool would have been one of many of these groups who contributed in a generous way.Cream card with gold border. Dark blue printing with Warrnambool Legacy club at the top. Legacy logo printed in gold underneath.Signed by W.G. Sinclair. warrnambool, shire of warrnambool, warrnambool legacy club, legacy club endowment plan, w g sinclair

Wallpaper fragment from an early workman's cottage in Weller St, Geelong West built in 1854. This property was refurbished following its sale in the early 1990s. Over time many layers of wallpaper had been pasted to the original paper. The wallpaper was damp and hanging off the walls. It was removed to reveal packing case 'slats' on the stud wall. When the skirting board was removed the original wallpaper was revealed. Although not a Warrnambool artefact, the Weller St property was owned by a local resident. It shows the wallpaper design of the period and the manner in which wallpaper was attached in the mid 19th century.Wallpaper fragment with maroon flowers and olive green leaves on a bone-coloured background mounted on hessian backinggeelong west, weller st, workman's cottage, interior decoration, wallpapers

The Warrnambool Baptist Church in Koroit Street celebrated 150 years of formal worship in 2014. This book gives a brief overview of those years from 1964 to 2014 as the first 100 years have been recorded elsewhere. The book gives details on resident ministers, women’s and men’s fellowship societies, missionary work, local church activities and Sunday School classes. The book is of some importance as it gives us a good picture of the Baptist Church in Warrnambool over the past 50 years. It will be useful for researchers and for others interested in the Church’s activities. The author is well-known in Warrnambool as a former pharmacist and a volunteer worker in historical and cultural spheres (Flagstaff Hill, Mahogany Ship Committee, Portuguese Festival etc)This is a paper back book of 52 pages. It has a red cover with a colour photograph of the interior of the Warrnambool Baptist Church. The pages are glued together. The book contains printed material, black and white and colour photographs and illustrations. Front Cover: ‘Loving God, Loving people’ – A Brief History of Warrnambool and District Baptist Church 1964 to 2014 warrnambool, warrnambool baptist church

Sol Green came to Australia as a penniless migrant who made his fortune as a bookmaker. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Museum Hall of fame in 2002. He purchased the Shipley stud from George Rolfe about 1905 and set about turning the Ayrford cattle property into a successful horse stud. His horse Comedy King won the Melbourne Cup in 1910 and was retired to stud in 1912. He became one of the top 10 Australian Stallions in the ensuing years. He dispersed his stud at Shipley in 1918 and this catalogue lists the stock sold that day. The property remained in the Green family and continued as a dairy farm with cheese factory and piggery by his son Bob Green. Sol Green was known for his philanthropic gestures extending help where needed on various fronts. Shortly before his death in 1948 he donated 47000 pounds to five Melbourne hospitals.This catalogue has significance firstly on a local level in that Shipley was an important farm in the district and secondly that it was owned by Mr Sol Green who was a person of standing within the racing industry as a bookmaker but also as a stud owner and owner of a Melbourne cup winner in 1910. This catalogue lists the stock which he had established at Shipley in a relatively short period of time.Light grey card cover with horse in brown. The title is in top left corner in brown text with the date 1918 in bottom right. Compilers details on back cover. 164 Pages. It has black and white plates of two horses, Comedy King and White Star* Mallinson Pomborneit 9/1/18. Light paper pasted inside front cover “Colac and District Historical Society, Donor Miss Betty Mallinson 1960. There are purchasers’ names and the purchase price paid, written at the base of each page. warrnambool, allansford, shipley, sol green, comedy king, white star 1918, shipley dispersal sale, shipley stud

This mug with the name inscribed on the side was perhaps a present for a child. No information has been found on Henry Reeves though there have been well-known families bearing that surname in Warrnambool’s history.This mug, at this point of time, has no known local significance, but it is an attractive item and will be useful for display. This is a white china mug or cup with coloured flowers and foliage painted on the sides. The handle has a blue decoration and the rims of the base and the top are blue. There is a crack on the side and some staining on the inside of the mug. The name ‘Henry Reeves’ is painted on the side of the mug. ‘Henry Reeves’ household items, history of warrnambool, henry reeves

This sign points has two different messages. The first states Public Works Office, which was operational in Victoria between 1855 and 1987 dealt with many aspects of the states infrastructure. It had many different reponsibilities and roles from building government accommodation and fit out of buildings, licences for unused roads and water ways, main roads and bridges, ports and harbour,and water supplies. Much of this work was managed through local offices such as the one at Warrnambool. The sign on the reverse which states Witnesses Waiting Room relates to the court house which is where this sign originated.The Warrnambool court house was built in 1870-71 by the Victorian Public Works department and it is possible that this sign relates to that period.It is one of a number of public buildings built in the period 1870-1890 including the Police station and stables and police quarters, the Post Office and drill Hall , all in the same vicinity. This building reflects the growth of the town and also the importance it held at the time from a state level. The building while no longer used as a court house is a building of significance to Warrnambool as well as to the state of Victoria, being one of six around the state which were built in free classical style. This sign denotes the waiting room for witnesses which was situated on the western side of the building.A tangible link which provides historical and social significance to Warrnambool.Rectangular wooden sign with rounded corners. There is text on both sides painted in gold paint with shadow in black. One side is a darker brown stain . There are screw holes in each corner.and one hole on left middle of sign. Rounded edge on one side.Side 1:Witnesses Waiting Room Side 2:Public Works Office.warrnambool, warrnambool court house, public works department warrnambool