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 November1884 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 fund raising 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 court house 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 historic 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 Historic 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 art works 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. History of Australia Vol 3 Author: G W Rusden Publisher: Chapman & Hall Ltd Date: 1883Label on spine cover with typed text RA 994 RUS Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Librarywarrnambool, 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, history of australia vol 3, g w rusden

This volume narrates the part played by the Australian Corps in the barring of the German advance upon Amiens in 1918. It also endeavours to explain the change of outlook which enhanced the spirit and performance of Australian soldiers throughout the last year of the war. The main subject necessarily involves a more than incidental reference to the performance of the British Army in the greatest battle ever waged.During the main German offensive 1918Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 - Volume V - The AIF in France 1918 Hardcover cardboard, Illustrations, Maps, Chronologymessines, ludenorff strike, australian corp, amiens, dernancourt, battle of lys, villers bretonneux, hangard wood, somme, st. quentin, fonquebillers, lancashire fusiliers, 53rd battalion, 35th battalion, sir henry wilson, arras, battle of hazebrouck, kemmel ridge

A history of the club written and published for the centenarymurrumbeena, centenary, history, book

Highlights of the History of Croydon published 2005

A Short History of Templestowe published in 1982

Healesville - History in the Hills published 1982

The Pentagon history was obtained by Neil Sheehan.This is the definitive edition of the Pentagon Papers as published by the New York Times.vietnam war (1961-1975), united states - foreign relations - vietnam, vietnam - politics and government - 1945-1975

Published history of the Kew Bowling Club to mark its centenary. [The item is part of the large historic Kew Bowling Club collection (1880-1988) gifted to the Kew Historical Society in 2020].non-fictionHistorykew bowling club - wellington street - kew (vic), clubs - lawn bowls - kew (vic), bowling clubs - kew bowling club - history, nixon nv

Copy of pictorial history book written by John Cribbin significantly signed by councillors and the author on the first page.The words "Moorabbin: A Pictorial History, 1862 - 1994" printed in brown colour in and oval at the top of a red, hard paper cover book, copy of an image of horse and carts and Gregg's Plough and Harrow Hotel, South Brighton below. Below that name of author "John Cribbin" is printed.

This DVD gives information about the Pye family. Thomas Pye came to Sydney as convict in 1837 and was assigned to work for Captain Sylvester Brown and came to the Port Philip district with his master. Sylvester's son, Thomas, travelled to the Western District in 1844 and took Thomas and his wife. Mary with him. Thomas Browne later wrote novels under the name of Rolf Boldrewood . In his book " Old Melbourne Memories " Thomas Pye is given the name Joe Burge. Thomas Browne established the property "Squattlesea Mere" and Thomas Pye and his family settled in Port Fairy and then in Bessiebelle. Today this little settlement has many Pye descendants. The other matter of interest is that Thomas Pye's son,Charles Pye, gained the Victoria Cross in India and is buried at Tower Hill. his DVD is of historical interest because it records the story of the Pye family in the Western District.This is a DVD with blue hand writing on the front and an accompanying sheet of paper showing an English country scene. It is enclosed in a plastic mesh envelope.TAPESTRY Our Pye Family history through all generations by Elizabeth Pye.pye family, warrnambool, captain sylvester brown, thomas browne, rolf boldrewood

Compiled by Ken Hyslop for the Back to Campbells Bridge in November/ December 1991.Fawn Card Cover brown border enclosing title and sketch of house, and authors nameCampbell's Bridge Development and Social History 1861-1991. Compiled By Ken Hyslop.stawell

This 31 x page booklet titled "Corps History (1915 - 1990)" was written by LtCol Clem Sargent who was the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Survey Corps at the time. The Colonel Commandant was an honorary appointment charged with preserving the History of the Corps. LtCol Sargent served in the Survey Corps from 1945 till 1975 and retired at the rank of Colonel.31 x page booklet with blue card covers and black plastic binding containing text and some black and white poor-quality photos. Cover has Army Survey Regiment logo printed in blue and title "Corps History (1915 - 1990) By LtCol Clem Sargent"royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt