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 percent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 percent reference and 40 percent 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 has 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 1850’s to the late 1950’s 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 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, and to 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. As with many Mechanics' Institutes in Australia, the one which operated in Warrnambool was established and overseen for many years by key individuals associated with the development of the city itself. The WMI publication collection is historically significant because of its association with local people, places and the key historical themes in the development of Warrnambool of rural development, industry, farming, education, and community. The collection documents and illustrates the changing interests, focus and tastes of Victorians, especially those in regional cities. Generally the individual items in the collection are not particularly rare, as examples of all probably exist in other public collections in Victoria. It is primarily because there are so very few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, which lends this overall collection its significance. Many items in the WMI Collection have the potential to support further research, both as individual objects and through the collection in its entirety. This material is significant for its ability to assist in the interpretation of the history of the area and adds to the general understanding of the development of the township. Many components of the WMI publication collection complement and reinforce the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Collection, the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection, and that in the Warrnambool Historical Society, and also contribute to a clearer understanding of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute collections. This will greatly enhance the appreciation of the few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections across Victoria, and also in New South Wales. The similarities and differences between the small number of collections that have survived can provide further insights into how the people of Victoria in general, and Warrnambool in particular, constructed a civic culture of adult learning to foster an informed citizenry. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is of both local and state significance. Australian Outline A Brief History of Australia Author: Marjorie Barnard Publisher: Ure Smith Date: 1949 Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 994 BAR Front pastedown end page has sticker from Warrnambool Public Librarywarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, australian outline, marjorie barnard

Bill Cecil is a member of GHS and a long time resident of Greensborough. Bill presented a lively talk to the June 2012 meeting of Greensborough Historical Society. Bill provided details of the family run store in Greensborough and his involvement with the Greensborough Football Club. Oral history transcript by Bill Cecil, audio recording of talk presented to GHS meeting, PowerPoint of photographs. bill cecil, cecil family, greensborough football club, greensborough historical society, oral history

Aquinas Old Collegians Football Club 1981-1990 history compiled to mark the 10th year of existence.

1964 was the 50th anniversary of Eureka Terracotta and Tile Company.Four pages from the Ballarat Courier featuring the history of the Ballarat Terracotta and Tile Company, including photographs.ballarat courier, ballarat terracotta and tile company, otto steinkraus, lal lal, salt glazing, ceramics, clays, kilns, frederick sutton, frank herman, john robertson witherspoon, george william clegg, william miller, frank g. herman, jock simpson, bongiovanni tile press, mick o'donnell, jack cockerill, frank dolan, syd. robinson, bert parsons, sonny mark, ken smith, alex mills, clay preparation, tile press, glazing

Black plastic bound photocopy of photographs and typewritten family tree history of Wilkins family of Ringwood, Victoria.

typed document -'Heritage week -Reflections from a Postal viewpoint - including a History of the Bendigo post Office -document, bendigo post office -

Women at the Bendigo Ordnance Factory. During World War 2, with a critical look at the Oral History Technique.Lynette G. Cassar.bendigo, industry, ordnance factory - females

A History of Holy Trinity Bendigo. A Spiritual Home. 64 pages, with photographs, illustrations. Orange cover. With IndexDr. Keith Colebendigo, hospital, religion, dr. keith cole, anglican church, holy trinity

Seven (7) sheets detailing the history of Bendigo, its Coat of Arms, and details of various buildings and landmarks.person, individual, basil miller

The Bendigo Fire Brigade, a History of its Development. Published by Lerk & McClure, 70 pages with photographs & illustrations.Donald A. Walker.bendigo, fire brigade, history of development, bendigo - history, fire brigades, fire brigade equipment, fire services victoria.

Tablets of Memory. The Bendigo Cohns and their Descendants 1853 - 1989. Biography of, and geneaological history of the Cohn family in Bendigo.Alan A. Cohn, Jack N.Cohn, and Lawrence J. Cohn.biography, cohn family

Douglas a Family History 1843-1981. Printer Cambrige Press, Bendigo. 72 pages. Photographs & illustrations.Grace Douglas, Rosalie Vanstanbook, family history, grace douglas and rosalie van

Hamilton Hill (Harold Hill 1858- July 1910) was a baritone singer born in Bendigo. In 1897 he was a member of Mr Bracy's Opera Company. In 1899 he left for San Francisco and then onto London in 1910. He began recording on both cylinders and discs in London in 1903 (as such he was the first Australian to make recordings for a mass audience). He toured extensively in Britain and the US, with occasional return tours to Australia. He died of consumption in Los Angeles leaving a widow and one child.A paper detailing the nearly lost history of famous Bendigo singer Hamilton Hill and his tours overseas.hamilton hill, theatre, music

Colour brochure from the Shamrock Hotel giving a history of the hotel from opening in 1852 until 1992.

Documents. Documents & references relating to Gertrude Perry's employment history including G. J. Coles & Co.organization, gertrude perry collection, documents relating to gertrude perry's employment, g. j. coles & co.

Document. Apex 60 years of Service. Diamond Jubilee. A History of Zone 7 Apex and its clubs.books, collections, apex 60 years of service

Magazine, 'The Rechabite' dated August 1980 - the 'historic first issue of a new publication is more history in the making'bendigo, institutions, independent order of rechabites

The Gazette Shamrock hotel souvenir supplement of Wednesday, April 8, 1981. Various articles on the history of the Shamrock.newspaper, bendigo, the gazette, shamrock hotel

Montage of pen and ink sketches of Regimental history. Includes a coloured Regimental Badge in a black plastic frame11th Armoured Cavalry Regt11th armoured cavalry regiment

Black Framed Document. Document outline History and Specifications of Bell OH58-A Helicopter with 161 RECCE SQN.framed document, oh58a, kiowa, 161 reconnaissance squadron, nui dat

Black Framed Document. Documented History of Bell 47G - 3B1 Sioux in Vietnam with 161 Recce Flightframed document, 161 reconnaissance flight, bell 47 sioux