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 1945 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 Isles of The Pacific or Sketches from the South Seas Author: B Francis Publisher: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co Date: 1882Label on spine cover with typed text RH 919.6 FRA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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, great ocean road, the isles of the pacific, sketches from the south seas, b francis

Donated by G. HaywoodBlack & White Postcard of view taken between two trees in front of post and rail fence with cowes bushland and sea in background."The Rose Series P. 3416" "Near The Lovers' Walk, Cowes, Phillip Is., Vic."lovers walk cowes, phillip island, g haywood

One of 11 photographs left in the museum for the Society by an anonymous donor.Black & White postcard - image taken from inside Forrest Caves looking out to the sea. Man standing outside on the rocks.Photo Shop Series Forrest Caves Phillip Island 6.3.47. On Back: "Inside the cave"forrest caves phillip island, phillip island coastline

The metal shoe buckle was part of the cargo of the Schomberg vessel. Buttons are used for fastening two pieces of fabric together such as trousers, shirts, dresses and other similar items. ABOUT THE SCHOMBERG (October 6 to December 27, 1855)- When the ship Schomberg was launched in 1855, she was considered the most perfect clipper ship ever to be built. James Baine’s Black Ball Line had commissioned her for their fleet of passenger liners. The Aberdeen builders designed her to sail faster than the clippers designed the three-masted wooden clipper ship to be fast. The timber used for the diagonal planking was British oak with layers of Scottish larch. This luxury emigrant vessel was designed for superior comfort. She had ventilation ducts to provide air to the lower decks and a dining saloon, smoking room, library and bathrooms for the first-class passengers. The master for Schomberg’s maiden voyage was Captain ‘Bully’ Forbes. He drunkenly predicted at her launch that he would make the journey between Liverpool and Melbourne in 60 days. Schomberg departed Liverpool on 6 October 1855 with 430 passengers and 3000 tons of cargo including iron rails and equipment intended the build the Geelong Railway and a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. The poor winds slowed Schomberg’s sail across the equator. She was 78 days out of Liverpool when she ran aground on a sand spit near Peterborough, Victoria, on 27 December; the sand spit and currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted the coastal steamer SS Queen at dawn and sent a signal. The master of the SS Queen approached the stranded vessel and all of Schomberg’s passengers safely disembarked. In 1975, 120 years after the Schomberg was wrecked, divers from Flagstaff Hill found an ornate communion set at the wreck site along with many other artefacts. In 1978 a diamond ring was discovered under the concretion in the lid of the communion set, which is currently on display. Former Director of Flagstaff Hill, Peter Ronald, had salvaged most of the artefacts from the wreck. This shoe buckle is significant as an example of an item in common use in the mid-19th century and the items carried on ships as cargo. The Schomberg collection as a whole is of historical and archaeological significance at a State level. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg is also significant for its association with the Victorian Heritage Registered shipwreck (VHR S 612). The collection is of prime significance because of the relationship between the objects salvaged, as together they help us to interpret the story of the Schomberg. The collection as a whole is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria's maritime history and its potential to interpret social and historical themes. Shoe buckle; metal rectangular piece with a joining hook. The buckle has encrustations from the sea. It was recovered from the wreck of the Schomberg.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, schomberg, fastener, clothing accessory, clothing fastener, shoe accessory, shoe buckle, metal shoe buckle

Signal Letters of British Ships 1939 For the use of ships at sea and signal stations for 1939 Publisher: His Majestys Stationery Office flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, signal letters of british ships 1939, book

Signal Letters of British Ships 1938 For the use of ships at sea and signal stations for 1938 Publisher: His Majestys Stationery Office flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, signal letters of british ships 1938, book

Signal Letters of British Ships 1937 For the use of ships at sea and signal stations for 1937 Publisher: His Majestys Stationery Office flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, signal letters of british ships 1937, book

Signal letters of British Ships 1949 For the use of ships at sea and signal stations for 1949 Publisheer: His Majestys Stationery Office flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, signal letters of british ships 1949, book

Signal Letters of British Ships 1946 For the use of ships at sea and signal stations for 1946 Publisher: His Majestys Stationery Office flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, signal letters of british ships 1946, book

Early Aviation, RFC France WW1, RAF 20-30's, old sea planes, Battle of Britain,. Graf Spreephoto

Gold Photograph Collage with black and white Photograph. Nine Photograph of HMAS Sydney at sea. Ran Badge mounted in middle of the collage.RAN Badgephotograph, ran, hmas sydney

A coloured photograph in a black frame of H.M.A.S. Perth at sea. Under the photograph in gold print on a black background reads H.M.A.S. PerthH.M.A.S. Perthphotograph, cerberus collection, hmas perth

Max COWARD Born Ballarat Maxwell (Max) Maurice Coward was training to be an art teacher at the Ballarat Technical Art School from 1937 to 1941. He enlisted in the A.I.F. and was a Naval Trainee at Flinders Naval Depot in 1941. During these years Max Coward was described as a cartoonist and illustrator, and was attached to the Naval Intelligence Division in 1945, producing stories and drawings for the Navy newspaper Dit. His work was reproduced in the Christmas annual, HMAS Mk IV and the Army educational journal, Salt. Coward was active as a printmaker in the 1960s and 1970s. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Llinocut showing a stylized sailing ship on the sea. This work was undertaken while Max Coward was a student of the Ballarat Junior Technical School.art, artwork, max coward, coward, alumni, sailing ship, boat, ballarat junior technical school

E.C.M.A - 1929 - Senior cadets Bicycle Race - 1 mile won by 58th Battalion - J.KENNEDY 1930 59BNTrophy cup which can detach from trophy plate. Has both handles intact and they are shaped like a sea horse. E.C.M.A - 1929 - Senior cadets Bicycle Race - 1 mile won by 58th Battalion - J.KENNEDY 1930 59BN5/6 rvr, 5/6 rvr bhq, 5/6 rvr p&d, e.c.m.a - 1929 - senior cadets bicycle race, 58th battalion, j.kennedy 1930 59bn

Owner 'Labro'?? converted it then left the areaColour photograph of scallop boat Subron TVE at sea off. Two men working the dredge table. Lakes Entrance Victoriafishing industry, ships and shipping, waterways

Colour photograph of the scallop fishing boat Potts, two people on deck, at sea in Bass Strait, off Lakes Entrance, Victoriaboats and boating, fishing industry, ocean

Colour photograph of the fishing boat James Kerlin, one person on deck, at sea in Bass Strait off Lakes Entrance Victoria.boats and boating, fishing industry, ocean

Gumleaf owner / skipper Jim and Olive AldertonColour photograph of the fishing boat Gumleaf, two crew working on deck, at sea in Bass Strait off Lakes Entrance Victoriaboats and boating, fishing industry, ocean

This item commemorates the involvement of the Royal Australian Navy in the war in Vietnam. HMAS Melbourne was an escort ship during the war in Vietnam.An original oil painting of HMAS Melbourne at sea by Roger Knowles. Grey ship against bright blue sky with purplish clouds. hmas melbourne, roger knowles, oil painting