WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much - loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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 Australian Race Vol 4 Author: Edward M Curr Publisher: Government Printer Melbourne Date: 1887 Further Information: Map in pocket at the back of vol Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library. Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum. Flyleaf has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the australian race vol 4

140 Loose pages titled The Bendigo Saleyards Economic Viability Study. Report written by Kate Millard on behalf of the Bendigo Development Committee Inc. Contents include: Chapter 1 - Background Information, Chapter 1 - Present Operations at the Saleyards, Chapter 3 - Economic Factors, Chapter 4 - Environmental Factors, Chapter 5 - Selling Techniques, Chapter 6 - Employment Study, Management and Sundry Issues, Chapter 7 - Survey of Farmers and Saleyard Users in the 'Catchment Area', and Chapter 8 - Recommendations of the Report. Includes diagrams and maps. Recommendations printed on dark yellow paper.bendigo, council, cattle markets, bendigo saleyards collection - the bendigo saleyards economic viability study, bendigo development committee inc., kate millard, loddon campaspe planning authority, street, ryan and associates, bendigo city council, strathfieldsaye shire council, department of industry technology & resources, national library of australia, meldrum burows & partners, core wilson sayer, town planning appeals panel, ces, victorian farmers and graziers association, stock agents association, department of agriculture, department of industry technology & resources, department of conservation forests and land, cr jock comini, rca depot, wellsford rifle range, bendigo airport, bendigo field naturalists club, mr david kennedy, mr john brumby, mr john radford, neil o'keefe, bendigo east progress association, bendigo east traders, trades hall council, mr tom uren, mr frank wilkes, mr bruce reid, mr k i m wright, mr e t ebery, bendigo pastoral council of the vfga, victorian meatworks association, bendigo stock & station agents association, rutlands transport, mr don pickles, country abattoirs & wholesalers association association of victoria, meat and allied trade federation of australia, bendigo saleyards advisory committee, bendigo residents & ratepayers association, a h & n graham, mrs p unmack australian bureau of statistics, mr lloyd houlden, cr c rodda, mr jolly, mr tony milanese, dr robert carter, university of melbourne, bendigo college of tafe, t matthews, a s & r d rutland, john kerr, j talbot, g l o'sullivan, penney & lang pty ltd, graeme pickering, pickhall j w & sons, r a plant, w k schmidt, t j vick, k & j wignall, a e wright, g chapman, a j gillies, p g & m m harris, ian r hollingsworth, b kennedy, s letcher, s & d k letcher, p m llewellyn, l g mason, boyer r t, connally m f, kennedy & mortlock, nevins j p, r w johnstone, w j keith, b d kelly, notman r, pitts a j & c a, pitts mervyn l & co, rowe w o, warren k m, associated stock & station agents, dalgety farmers ltd, elders dsm estates, ellis nuttall & co, gallagher g d, hamilton real estate, mcgregor ralph h & co, mckean w & co, miller turner livestock co, vains e m & co, victorian producers, hill m j & co, bennetts meats, comell bros, davis b & d, hardwick g f & v c, penney & lang p/l, tendercut meats, northern seed supply co, bendigo fertilizers, agri business pty ltd, agrilink consulting group pty ltd, acil aust pty ltd, mcgowan & associates, chapman w c, talbot e j, mcculloch w & sons pty ltd, k v equipment, commercial egg producers assoc co-op, monsanto aust ltd, balmer bryan r, barry i j, bath l, clarke b j, treacy k m, turner j m, bendigo mower serv pty ltd, everlast concrete tank tyltd, wicks bros, canvas goods, don mcarthur, bendigo communications, transcom, emdell pty ltd, epsom pharmaceutical supplies, sandhurst fencing pty ltd, arnolds gates & fencing, r furniss, carne neville, awa & unicla, ajm refrigeration, bendigo concrete sawing service, hamilton r j, hearpes t w, j e brown, campey dr a r, fyffe j j, kangaroo flat vet clinic, ottrey k e, bendigo sprinkler installations, milnes irrigation, onga pumpshop, barastoc products, bush's produce stores, epsom produce, k m m pty ltd, bendigo grain co, eaglehawk chaff mills, grain elevators board dept, bonneys pest control, knights pest control, brown wk & l d, bendigo sewerage authority, bendigo water board, aci computer services, leham donald, a e hueffer & associates, wolmoke planners, p langley, mr ken strachan, mr evan jones, mr peter byrnes, mr wayne street, street ryan & associates

Bendigo Advertiser December 23, 1970 - Museum For Bendigo Proposal. Bendigo Museum Society plans to establish a museum of applied science and natural history in Bendigo, and hopes the City Council will provide a building for such a museum. President Dr. W. Straede and Secretary Mr. E. Wilkinson explain their plan to council. Mr Wilkinson, a geologist with the Mines Department , who formerly worked at the National Museum in Melbourne believes Bendigo would readily support such a museum providing a building was supplied by council for the venture to go ahead. Cr A.E. Galvin asked if the Bendigo Museum Society had any particular building in mind and an expression of interest in the Temperance Hall was raised. Cr. J.C.M. Jeffrey suggested the society apply for an area in the City Hall instead once council occupied its new administrative offices.bendigo, tourism, bendigo museum proposal

Printed Prospectus of the Eureka & Vineyard Gold Mining Co. N. L. Prospectus mentions previous owners, cost and capability of machinery, plans for working, yields, and mentions full reports photographs of plant and reef outcrop are at the office. Also mentioned are the price of shares and Calls not to exceed 3d a month.document, certificate, shares, joseph davies collection - prospectus of the eureka & vineyard gold mining co nl, geo j keogh, t odgers, b ford, q crawford, gold mining lease no 4430, mines department, vineyard reef, eureka reef

Two copies of Mathematics for Teachers, Covering Sections E and F, One Way of Doing It, planned by G.W.A.Wigney. Books have cream coloured covers with black printing. Book contains plans for lessons. 8800.17d bears what may be a signature that looks very like the surname Gotch.By G.W.A. Wigney, Registered at G.P.O Melbourne for transmission through the post as a book. Wholly set up and printed in Australia by Renown Press Pty Ltd., 16-20 Woorayl Street, Carnegie.education, primary, golden square laurel st p.s., golden square laurel street p.s. collection - mathematics for teachers e and f, g w a wigney, linehan & shrimpton, renown press pty ltd, education department

45 paged booklet - ''Bendigo - The City of Gold and Dragons'' (1988-89)- a Council services and community information directory. Contents : Mayor's message; City of Bendigo; Exciting current developments; Council meeting times; Your councillors; Corporate plan; Chief Executive Officer's message; Corporate Services Department; Rates and valuations; Revaluation; Tourism; Parking and traffic control; Dogs; By-laws; Community development; Library; Health and Human Services Department; Child Care centres; Home Care services; Leisure; Engineering and Technical Services Dept.; Town planning; Building; Parks and recreation; Shopping guide/car parking; Discount shopping vouchers; Operations Department; Street lighting; Garbage collection. Photographs of councillors and Departmental managers/directors.bendigo, council, community information directory, cr. r. adams, colin nankervis, michael currie, james douglass, phillip geri, rodney fyffe, jeffrey fyffe, peter morley, chris wilson. rates and valuations, parking, by laws, shopping. departmental managers and directors.

A collection of Bendigo Advertiser articles relating to the autonomy legislation and expansion of Bendigo Teachers College 22/6/1972 and 24/6/1972. There is also a page from Victorian Government Council with questions relating to the College's building plan. 2/5/1972.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo education, bendigo teachers' college, bendigo teachers' college autonomy, victorian education department, mr. k. c. scarrott, mr. k. c. cole, mr. lindsay thompson, the hon. m.a. clarke, hon. murray byrne, education department victoria, state college of victoria, tertiary education, teacher training

For about 40 years the corner of Hargraves and Williamson Streets in Bendigo in rural Victoria had been known for its arresting aroma. From a hole in a window wafted the smell of Gillies Brothers' meat pies.The Gillies window, along with the nearby Shamrock Hotel, ANZ Bank and Post Office, was one of the delights of Bendigo and proof that mass-produced food can still be delicious. Gillies went from strength to strength, surviving listing on the second board and a handover to a younger generation of managers.Gillies had three factories, 10 shops in rural Victoria and Melbourne. Les Gillies, one of three brothers who founded the baking business after the difficult drought years preceding 1950, admits that the company has not always been run along the most modern business methods. Change began with the preparation of a business plan subsidised by the Victorian Department of Industry, Technology and Resources in 1974. Prepared by Cruickshanks, the plan formed the basis of the company's float on the second board. Capital expanded to $4.4 million. In 1988, a second plan was produced by Chris Mason and Associates covering business, marketing, computer utilisation and human resources. This factory for Gillies pies originally opened in the 1950s, but has sadly been closed and abandoned since about 2006.CD Gillies History Photos containig 11 photos of shops, staff and factories in Bendigo.bendigo, business, gillies bros, gillies pies

PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: SUBMISSION BY THE BENDIGO FIELD NATURALIST CLUB FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WHIPSTICK 1974 The submission was sent to: the Minister for Local Government and the Town and Country Planning Board The Minisry for Conservation and its agency, the Forests Commission and Lands Department Federal Government Ministeries for Environment, Concervastion and Science, and the National Estate. Opening Paragraphs: This re-submission was compiled to bring to the attention of the authorities many aspects relating to the preservation of the Bendigo Whipstick which were not so apparent at the time of the earlier submission. In fact the 19721 submissions was mainly aimed at having reserved forest (which lie a opposite extremities to the Whipstick scrub) declared Forest Park. It is the central belt of Whipstick scrub that is of scientific interest and considered unipue and which we were primarily concerned in preserving and retaining as one viable ecological unit. The Submission consists of: INTRODUCTION Opening Explanation Whipstick Eucalyptus Cutting for Oil Distallation (Photographs) Agricultural Intrusions into the Whipstick (Photographs) CONTENTS Illustrations The Significance of the Bendigo Whipstick Diary of Whipstick Conservation Events Socialogical Implications Conservation policies and reccomendations Agricultural Aspects Eucalyptus Oil Situation Alternatives for the Eucalyptus Oil Industry Future Conservation of the Whipstick Reccomendation for Acquisition Programperson, individual, peter ellis oam

Letter from Education Department to the Head Master, Golden Square High School dated 16th May, 1968. Enclosed plan showing the extent of school site. The letter is signed by W. A. Crellin (Secretary).education, secondary, golden square

Map of the Bendigo Goldfield, showing reef lines, mines and significant geographical features such as Monument Hill, Quartz Hill and Diamond Hill. On the back of map 'Department of Mines, Victoria. Plan of Bendigo Goldfield.bendigo, mining, bendigo goldfields

Pink page pasted onto cream card titled Plans and Sections to accompany Bulletin No 33. Hustler's Line of Reef, Bendigo by H S Whitelaw, by Authority: Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer, Melbourne. Plate No 1 to No 34. Mines mentioned: Fortuna Hustler's Mine, Hustler's Royal Reserve No 2 Mine, Hustler's Royal Reserve Mine Park Shaft, Great Extended Hustler's Mine, Hustler's Reef and Hustler's Reef No 1 Mines, Hustler's Reef Mine, Comet Mine, United Hustler's and Redan Mine, K. K. Mine, Hustler's Consols Mine, Fortuna Hustler's Mine. Department of Mines Geological Survey of Victoria 1914. Written on the back: Lightning Hill area to Summer Hill.document, hustlers reef, plans & sections to accompany bulletin no 33, geological survey of victoria, department of mines, hustler's line of reef, h s whitelaw, fortuna hustler's mine, hustler's royal reserve no 2 mine, hustler's royal reserve mine park shaft, great extended hustler's mine, hustler's reef mine, hustler's reef no 1 mine, comet mine, united hustler's mine, redan mine, k k mine, hustler's consols mine, fortuna hustler's mine, hustler's consols mine, albert j mullett, government printer melbourne

Norman Oliver collection. Councillor and sometime Mayor of the City of Bendigo. Twenty pages of typed notes with the date 18th April written in pencil in the margin of the front page. Found in sequence of 1951 notes. Topics include the Library, and subtitled paragraphs on the Floral display, the Commonwealth Jubilee bicycle relay, the City Council meeting, Anzac Day, the City Engineer's Department, the Town Planning conference, Playing grounds and the Combined schools centenary sports meeting.bendigo, council, speech notes, councillor norman oliver, sometime mayor of bendigo. radio station 3bo 'the mayor speaks'. bendigo centenary 1951.

The Norman Oliver collection. Norman Oliver was three times Mayor of Bendigo - 1950-51, 1964-65, 1970-71. Fifteen typed pages headed Mayoral Report 4th July 1951. In the format he used for his weekly talk on 3BO 'The Mayor Speaks'. Topics include : Bendigo Centenary, the Public Works Department, traffic control, taxi size and rules, expenditure without notice of motion, town planning, and bus services.bendigo, council, speech notes, norman joseph oliver , councillor norman oliver. mayor of bendigo. 3bo 'the mayor speaks'. bendigo centenary 1951.