This container has been used to hold writing ink for commercial purposes so it would have been used by businesses and offices of all kinds. Ink was used in conjunction with writing tools (pens, quills, blotting paper etc) prior to the widespread use after the 1950s of the ballpoint pen for most handwritten work. This container has no known local significance but it is an example of the type of container that would have been used in local businesses and offices in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. It will be useful for display. This is a ceramic container, light-brown in colour and varnished. The body of the container is circular in shape with a smaller circular-shaped neck and a top opening with a lip for pouring. The container has some imperfections and protrusions and the top has some chipping. The maker’s name is on the container. ‘Angus & Co Ink Commercial’ writing tools, history of warrnambool, pottery ink bottle

This glass has been produced as a memento of the South West Bottle & Collectable Club Annual Display and Sale of 2016. The club has reproduced the logo of the 19th century Warrnambool chemist R.F. Kennedy because he was a prominent chemist and because his chemist bottles and jars have become so collectable today. Richard Frank Kennedy came to Warrnambool in the 1880s as a retail, wholesale and manufacturing chemist and his premises in Timor Street became one of the best furnished and stocked pharmacy businesses in Victoria. The lighthouse logo used on his bottles, labels, jars and advertising material was a well-known one throughout Victoria.Although this glass is not an original R.F. Kennedy item it is of interest as it shows how widely known Kennedy’s pharmacy business was and how he is still remembered today.This is a heavy-weight glass tumbler etched with the wording ‘South West Bottle & Collectable Club Inc’ and the image of an R. F. Kennedy lighthouse symbol. The glass has a stamp on the bottom with the maker’s name.‘R.F. Kennedy, Warrnambool’ ‘South West Bottle & Collectable Club Inc’ ‘Duralex 12, Made in France’. south west bottle & collectable club inc., r.f.kennedy, warrnambool

W J Taggart was a tailor who operated from Fairy Street at the time near Russell’s and Powell’s. This is near The Caledonian Hotel and in the current RSPCA shop. They had moved to this shop around 1884. A notice in the local paper in 1922 states that he was re- opening his business in the same premises.Provides a link to one of Warrnambool’s 19th Century businesses.Wooden hangers with rounded corners and metal hooks. Printed names engraved and painted in black with business name.W J Taggart Tailor and Outfitter Warrnambool W H Taggart Tailor and outfitter Warrnambool. Both made in America w j taggart, coathangers, warrnambool

This book belonged to the Warrnambool solicitor, Con O’Mahony (1863-1920). In 1883, he won the University of Melbourne Bowen Prize for his essay on the Federation of the Australian colonies. His prize, ten volumes of the ‘Lives of the Chancellors’, is today in the possession of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. O’Mahony had a legal practice in Warrnambool in the Royal Chambers in Kepler Street at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He was initially in a partnership with Messrs E.W. Klingender and Murray, then ,when this partnership was dissolved, he continued the business under the name of O’Mahony and later O’Mahony and Murray. He was actively involved in the management of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and was a member of the Warrnambool Hospital committee. The item here described shows O’Mahony’s interest in bridge-playing, a popular pastime at that time. This book is of some significance as it belonged to Con O’Mahony, a well-known lawyer in Warrnambool in the early 1900s. It also shows the interest in bridge-playing as a pastime during that period. This is a small hard cover book of 112 pages. It was published in 1901(eighth edition) and contains seven chapters on how to play bridge, a scoring table and an index. The last three pages are advertisements for other books on bridge. The cover is yellow with the title of the book, the author’s name and the publisher on the front cover contained within a scroll pattern with four coloured images of the four kings from a pack of cards. The back cover has a list of the British Chess Handbooks published by George Routledge & Sons Ltd. The pages have been annotated (presumably by Con O’Mahony, the Warrnambool solicitor) and some sentences and headings have been underlined.Four stamps – one of ‘May 24 1902’ and three of ‘C.O’Mahony, Solicitor, Warrnambool’.bridge-playing, con o’mahony, warrnambool

These circular letters have been sent by the Secretary of the Warrnambool Club to committee members of the club in the 1870s and 80s. The Warrnambool Club, a club for men of some standing in the community, was established in the early 1870s and initially had rooms in the Warrnambool Club Hotel which was opened by John Amon Smith in January 1874. This hotel was in Kepler Street between Timor and Koroit Streets. By 1876 membership of the Warrnambool Club had grown to over 70 and the Warrnambool Club Hotel rooms were deemed to be too small. So the Warrnambool Club erected a new building in 1877 in Kepler Street. Today the Warrnambool Club operates today from the same building. These items are of historical significance because they are original 19th century documents associated with the Warrnambool Club, an important institution in Warrnambool for over 140 years. These are five sheets of paper folded to make four pages for each sheet. They date from the 1870s and 80s and are circular letters sent to committee members of the Warrnambool Club regarding forthcoming meetings. The letters are printed with handwritten material in the spaces of the first four items for the dates, signature of the Secretary and the business of the meeting. The handwriting is in black ink. Item One has been badly damaged by silverfish.warrnambool club, walter helpman, history of warrnambool

This book gives details on the lives of the artists Rex Battarbee and Albert Namatjira. It is written by Martin Edmonds. The book explores the relationship between the two artists and the effect on each other of artistic philosophies and techniques, described as each being ‘a catalyst and a primer for the other, each shimmering alongside the other’. This book is of considerable interest as Rex Battarbee was born and reared in Warrnambool and his older sister Florinda was his first art teacher and an important influence in his artistic development. She was also a talented artist and a well-known art teacher in Warrnambool and many of her works survive. The Warrnambool Art Gallery holds works by both Rex and Florinda Battarbee, with the works of the latter belonging to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. The Battarbee family members were prominent in Warrnambool business and artistic circles at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Rex’s father was a shopkeeper and had a bacon and ham curing business and the family lived in East Warrnambool at ‘Skiddaw’. This is a soft cover book of 342 pages. It tells the stories of the artists Rex Battarbee and Albert Namatjira. It contains a Contents page, an Introduction, ten chapters, a Note on Sources and Acknowledgements. The front cover has a black and white photograph of Battarbee and Namatjira. The text includes several black and white photographs. rex battarbee, albert namatjira, florinda battarbee, history of australian art, history of warrnambool, warrnambool art gallery

This business card advertised the business of Charles Hider who had a stationery and book shop in Liebig Street from the 1860s to the 1880s. (63 Liebig Street today). He also sold photographs and pictures, picture frames, pianos and other musical instruments and homeopathic medicines and was an agent for local newspapers and overseas magazines. The stamp on one side of the card shows Liebig Street spelled ‘Liebeg’, suggesting that the stamp was perhaps made in the 1860s when ‘Liebeg’ was the common spelling of the street name. Charles Hider’s brother James also had a book and stationery store in Warrnambool in Timor Street in the 19th century. This card is of considerable interest as it belonged to Charles Hider, a prominent businessman in Warrnambool in the 19th century. It also shows the type of business card used in the 19th century.This is a small business card from Charles Hider, a 19th century Warrnambool bookseller and stationer. It is buff-coloured on one side with a stamp of Charles Hider on a white background and a sketch of a sprig of daisies with foliage. The flowers are coloured red, white and green. On the other side is information on the items sold in Hider’s shop and other services offered. The information is printed in black on a buff-coloured background. ‘Chas. Hider, Liebeg (sic) Street, Warrnambool’charles hider, warrnambool

This book has a brown leather cover which is heavily embossed with brown and gold patterns and gold lettering, The spine is torn at the top and the cover is worn at the edges.The pages are gilt-edged and contain printed text and black and white sketches, illustrations, maps and diagrams. non-fictionAn encyclopaedia and business guide (late 19th century)19th century australia, 19th century encyclopaedia, 19th century business guide

This clock is believed to have come from the Warrnambool Railway Station. The Railway commenced in 1890 and the station was opened in 1897. The clock was made by Wilson Brothers, a prominent manufacturing watch and clock- making business in Timor Street, Warrnambool in the second half of the 19th Century.This item is of considerable significance as an early Railway Clock in Warrnambool. Railway Clocks were important in the 19th century as prominent time pieces for the general community to use to establish the time of day.This is a clock with a circular face behind glass enclosed in a metal frame with wood surrounds The wooden frame is attached to a wooden rectangular box with a curved bottom. The box has a metal clip for attachment to a wall or a board. The metal face is white with black painted Roman numerals, which are damaged, and black printing. Minute markers are indicated. The hands are metal. All the metal is rusted.Wilson Bros Warrnamboolwarrnambool railway station, wilson brothers warrnambool

THis typewriter is a Remington typewriter, model Standard 12 manufactured in 1925. The Remington company of New York, U.S.A., in the 19th century manufactured firearms and later typewriters. In 1873 the company produced the first commercial typewriter and introduced the QWERTY keyboard system. This typewriter has no known local significance and is retained for display purposes.This is a metal typewriter with silver markings and silver rims on the keys. It has a red and black printing tape Remingtoncommercial typewriters, qwerty keyboard system, vintage business machines

This is a photograph of the ship, 'Speculant' at the Warrnambool Breakwater. There is another ship alongside the 'Speculant' and the dredge, 'Pioneer' is in the background. The 'Speculant' was a three masted barquentine of 412 tons built in Scotland in 1895. It was purchased by P. J. McGennan in 1902 and wrecked at Cape Patton, near Apollo Bay, in 1911. It was one of the few ships to be registered at the Warrnambool port. Peter John McGennan (1844-1920) was a cooper by trade, initially operating a shop in Warrnambool making cheese vats, churns, coolers and tanks. He then opened a factory in South Warrnambool making butter boxes, nails and barbed wire. He owned several ships, using them to import material for his businesses, especially white pine timber from New Zealand, and to export his own products. He was a Warrnambool Councillor from 1885 to 1891.This photograph is of interest as a reminder of the importance in the late 19th century and early 20th century Warrnambool of Peter McGennan and his industries and community work.This is a black and white photograph of three ships. It is enclosed in glass with a varnished wooden frame with an ornate edging. The photograph shows one ship in the background and two at the Warrnambool breakwater with some railway cartage trucks in the foreground.ship 'speculant', dredge 'pioneer', p.j. mcgennan

This lamp would have been attached to a coach, or even an early automobile, for lighting purposes. It could also have been used for outdoor purposes in a household or business setting. Lamps such as this were used in the 19th century and early 20th century and preceded or accompanied the use of oil lamps and were later superseded by electric and gas lighting.This item is of historical interest and is retained for display purposes.This is a rectangular-shaped lamp made of metal. It is painted black and has clear glass with bevelled edges on two sides and a small round red-coloured glass on another side. The lighting mechanism inside the glass appears to have held a candle. The body of the lamp is mounted on a solid round metal pipe. There is a metal handle at the top for attaching the lamp to a wall or stand.vintage lighting, coach lamps

These two buttons are tailors' buttons for clothing made in Warrnambool. The brown one is from the firm of Frederick Williamson who had a tailoring business at 157-159 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. His father Edward had started the tailoring business with a shop in Timor Street in the second half of the 19th century. Frederick Williamson was a Warrnambool City Councillor on three occasions (1924-1930; 1934-1939; 1942 -1945) and Mayor 1942-1943. The black button came from the Liebig Street, Warrnambool clothing and haberdashery store of Cramond and Dickson who employed tailors and dressmakers to make clothing to order. John Cramond and James Dickson opened their Warrnambool store in 1855 and it was a dominant business in Warrnambool for 119 years, closing in 1974. It was common practice in the first half of the 20th century for tailors and large clothing stores to have their own buttons for their suits etc.These two buttons are of some interest as examples of buttons made specifically for two local Warrnambool businesses. .1 Round button, light-brown in colour with four holes in the centre, a curved back and imprinted letters around the edge. .2 Round black button with four holes in the centre, a curved back and imprinted letters around the edge..1 F. Williamson Warrnambool 2. Cramond & Dicksonfrederick williamson warrnambool tailor, cramond & dickson warrnambool

This is a badge of an Australian association of fellmongers, wool sorters and scourers. This group may have been part of the Amalgamated Fellmongers, Wool Sorters and Wool Scourers Union of 1912-1918 or it may have been an earlier association. A fellmonger was a dealer in the hides or skins of animals, especially sheep, or a person who removed the skins from animals. There were several fellmongery and wool scouring establishments in 19th century Warrnambool and district. These included the Dallimore Fellmongery at Lake Gillear, the Bennett Merri Bank Fellmongery at Dennington and the fellmongery businesses of James Evenett and Henry Mawbey on the Merri River in South Warrnambool.Although it has no known local provenance, this badge is of interest because there were several fellmongery establishments in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century so it may have belonged to a local person.This medallion has a gold coloured image of a suspended lamb on a circular royal blue enamel background which in turn is surrounded by a white enamel annulus with text. The external brass edging is filigree. The medallion has an attached ring at the top with narrow gold ribbon threaded through an additional ring FELLMONGERS WOOL SORTERS & SCRS' . AUST. WOOLANDSKIN 82? G.P.O.PLACE W fellmongers, warrnambool history, dallimore fellmongery, bennett merri bank fellmongery, james evenett, henry mawbey

These buttons are from a nursing uniform (England and Wales). They were made for the General Nursing Council for England and Wales by the firm of Boyd Cooper. This business was established in England in 1780 and is still making uniforms and other items for hospitals etc. The buttons belonged to Edith Henry, a member of a well-known Warrnambool family in 19th and 20h century WarrnamboolThese buttons are of interest as they are a good example of buttons used on nursing uniforms in England early in the 20th century and they belonged to Edith Henry, a member of a prominent Warrnambool family.1 Circular bakelite button with raised Tudor rose, text and scroll around the edge. The reverse has small ring and text. 2. As above but of a smaller size.1 Obverse ENGLAND . AND. WALES Four small dots Reverse BOYD COOPER GEORGE ST. HANOVER SQUARE W1 2 Obverse ENGLAND.AND WALES four small dots. Reverse 100195 buttons, history of warrnambool, nursing buttons

This bottle was made in Epsom, Bendigo at the Bendigo Pottery Works. The bottle contained ginger beer manufactured at the cordials factory of J.S. Rowley at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool. John Searle Rowley (1837-1893) opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery in Timor Street and in 1868 established a cordial manufacturing plant on the site. The brewery section closed and the cordial manufacturing section, called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Waters works, was expanded, By the 1880s there were 13 employees and 20 varieties of soft drinks were being produced. After Rowley died in 1893 the business continued under the same name with Ralph Reeves managing the plant from 1900 until he moved to Koroit Street and operated a cordial factory under his own name. This bottle is of interest as an example of the soft drinks manufactured by J.S.Rowley of Banyan Street Warrnambool. This business was an important one in Warrnambool in the second half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century. This is a ceramic bottle in brown and buff colouring. The top has two chips. There is no stopper. ‘J.S. Rowley Hamilton and Warrnambool Ginger Beer’ ‘The Bendigo Pottery Epsom Bendigo’ j.s. rowley cordial manufacturer, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This ink well is of the type used in the 19th and 20th centuries as a container for ink. Because of its smallness it is presumed it was used in a household or small business. Pens and ink wells were used in writing up to about 1950 when fountain pens became more common and the ink was stored more in bottles or cartridges. The advent of the ballpoint pen eliminated the need for ink. This is a green-tinted glass container with a rectangular body and a smaller rectangular neck with an open top. The top of the container near the neck is ridged. The opening is chipped and partly broken off. ‘3’vintage household items, warrnambool

These bottles are known as marble stopper bottles. This type of bottle was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the stopper was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down where it would fall into the neck chamber below. The marble would stay inside the chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. These bottles have come from the aerated waters factory of John Fletcher of Warrnambool. This factory in Koroit Street was established in the mid 19th century by John Davis. As a young boy John Fletcher worked at the cordial factory of John Rowley in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for a number of years for John Davis at his Union Cordial Factory. In 1885 John Fletcher succeeded John Davis and continued in this business until 1930.. The business was then taken over by Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher manufactured aerated waters, soda, tonic waters, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsaparilla and cordials. These bottles are of interest firstly because they are good examples of marble stopper bottles, no longer in use today. They are also important because they are John Fletcher bottles and he was a prominent soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool for over 40 years. These four bottles are made of green coloured glass. They have a round body with deep indentations at the top, narrowing the entrance to the neck which is short and thick. The top opening is made of thick moulded glass. A glass marble is loose in the neck section. The rubber ring inside the neck is missing. The manufacturer’s details are embedded into the glass on both sides of the bottle.‘Lemonade’ ‘J.Fletcher’s Aerated Waters Koroit Street Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of John Fletcher Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ fletcher's cordial, marble stopper bottle, warrnambool cordial

This is a marble stopper bottle. It was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the marble was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle kept the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble has been pressed down and has fallen into the neck chamber below. The marble stayed inside the chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. This bottle came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of John Fletcher. This factory was commenced in the mid 19th century by John Davis. As a young boy John Fletcher worked at the cordial factory of John Rowley in Banyan Street, Warrnambool. He then worked for John Davis at his Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street for many years. In 1885 he succeeded John Davis in this business. Fletcher’s business continued until 1930 when it was sold to the soft drinks manufacturer, Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher made aerated waters, soda water, tonic water, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsaparilla and cordials. This bottle is of interest as a good example of a marble stopper bottle and as a memento of the soft drinks made by John Fletcher, a prominent Warrnambool businessman for over 40 years. This is a glass bottle with a heavy round base and a rounded body which is markedly indented at the top, causing the aperture inside to be narrowed. The neck is rounded and tapers to the moulded glass opening at the top. There is a round piece of red rubber inside the top of the bottle. A green glass marble is loose in the neck section. The lettering giving details of the manufacturer is embedded into the glass. There is a small chip on the base.‘John Fletcher Trade Mark (crown symbol)Warrnambool’ ‘Soda Water’ ‘M’ john fletcher, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers, warrnambool

This bottle came from the Warrnambool aerated waters manufacturer, John Fletcher. This factory was commenced in the mid 19th century by John Davis. As a young boy John Fletcher worked in the cordial factory of John Rowley in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for John Davis at his Union Cordial Factory for many years. In 1885 he succeeded John Davis in this business. Fletcher’s business continued until1930 when it was bought by another soft drinks manufacturer, Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher manufactured aerated waters, soda, tonic water, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsaparilla and cordials. This bottle is of interest because it is a John Fletcher bottle and he was a prominent soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool for over 40 years. This is a clear glass bottle. It has a round base and a rounded body tapering in the neck to a round moulded open top. The stopper or seal is missing. The bottle has embedded lettering with details of the manufacturer of the contents.‘John Fletcher Trade Mark (crown symbol) Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of John Fletcher Warrnambool & cannot be legally used by others’ john fletcher, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This bottle is called a torpedo bottle. It cannot stand up but lies on its side so that the soda contents are kept in contact with the cork. This stops the cork from shrinking and the consequent loss of pressure. The bottle came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of John Fletcher and would have held soda. The bottle has the name of both John Davis and John Fletcher on it. John Davis established a store in Warrnambool in the mid 19th century and he also established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street in the mid 1860s. John Fletcher worked at that factory for John Davis and in 1885 he bought the factory from John Davis. The Fletcher business continued until 1930. As the name of Davis is on the bottle (‘late J. Davis’) it is probable that this bottle dates from the early years of the Fletcher business. This bottle is of some considerable interest as it appears to be an early example of a John Fletcher bottle (late 19th century). Fletcher was a prominent businessman in Warrnambool for over 40 years. This is a green glass bottle, known as a torpedo bottle. It has a spherical-shaped body with a pointed curved end and a rounded neck with a round moulded top. There is no stopper. The details of the soda manufacturer are embedded into the glass on the side of the bottle. ‘John Fletcher late J. Davis Koroit St. Warrnambool’ john fletcher of warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This torpedo glass bottle comes from the Warrnambool aerated waters business of Daniel McSweeney. It would have held a type of soda and the bottle was made so that it could not stand up and so the soda was kept in contact with the cork. This stopped the cork from shrinking and so the pressure was not lost. Daniel McSweeney opened a cordial factory in Fairy Street in 1885 and, by the early 1890s had transferred his business to Henna Street. This factory was advertised as the largest cordial factory in the Western District, though this appeared to refer to the size of the building. In the late 1890s James Trigg leased the factory from McSweeney for some time. The factory was closed in 1900 but the building remains today and is occupied by the Alderdice Brass FoundryThis bottle is of interest as one of few bottles we have that came from the Warrnambool cordial factory of Daniel McSweeney. He was a prominent maker of soft drinks in the late 19th century.This is a green glass bottle. It is a ‘torpedo’ bottle so it is of a spherical shape with a pointed curved end, a rounded neck and a round moulded top. There is no stopper. The name of the manufacturer of the soft drink contents is embedded into the glass on one side. ‘D.McSweeney Warrnambool’ daniel mcsweeney warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This bottle was known as a torpedo bottle. As the bottle had to lie on its side the soda was kept in contact with the cork and stopped the cork from shrinking and causing loss of pressure. This bottle comes from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of John Searle Rowley (1837-1893). John Rowley, born in England, came to Australia in 1856 and in 1865 he opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets in Warrnambool, bottling the beer, not brewing it. In 1870 this business was closed and Rowley developed his soft drinks business which he had established in 1868. In 1872 the business was called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Works when a steam engine was purchased from Melbourne. In 1872 the factory was turning out 600 dozen bottles a day. By the 1880s the factory was occupying half an acre of land, was employing 13 people and manufacturing 20 varieties of drinks. Rowley died in 1893. He had been active in community affairs, serving four years on the Warrnambool Council and on the committees of the Warrnambool Hospital and the Mechanics Institute. This bottle is of great interest as it comes from the factory of the prominent 19th century Warrnambool aerated waters manufacturer, John Rowley. Few of his bottles have survived today. Cordial and soft drinks manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years and John Rowley was a key figure in this industry.This is a glass bottle, tinted green. The body of the bottle has an oval shape tapering to a point at the end and is known as a torpedo bottle. It can only be stored lying on its side. The neck of the bottle ends with a moulded glass top. There is no stopper. The bottle is slightly discoloured inside. The information on the maker is embossed into the body of the bottle.‘J.S. Rowley’s Aerated Waters Timor Street Warrnambool’john searle rowley, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This bottle is known as a marble stopper bottle. The bottle was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the stopper was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down where it would fall into the neck chamber below. The marble would stay inside the chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. This bottle came from the aerated waters factory of John Fletcher. This factory was commenced in the mid 19th century by John Davis. As a young boy John Fletcher worked at the cordial factory of John Rowley in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for John Davis at his Union Cordial Factory for many years. In 1885 he succeeded John Davis in this business. Fletcher’s business continued until 1930 and it later was bought by Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher manufactured aerated waters, soda, tonic waters, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsaparilla and cordials. This bottle is of interest, firstly because it is a good example of the marble stopper type of bottle, no longer in use. It is also important because it is a John Fletcher bottle and he was a prominent soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool for over 40 years. This is a green-coloured glass bottle with a round base. The top of the body of the bottle has two heavy indentations either side, narrowing the entry to the body of the bottle. The neck is short and thick and the opening at the top of the bottle is moulded with a rubber ring around the inside. A glass marble is loose inside the bottle neck. The name of the manufacturer is moulded into the glass on the side and includes a crown symbol used as a trade mark.‘John Fletcher Trade Mark Warrnambool’ john fletcher, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool

This ledger is a Warrnambool Swintons Store stock book and contains the sales of stock from September 1869 to an unknown date (perhaps to the end of 1870) and entries for 1871, 1872 and 1873, 1889, the 1890s and some dates early in the 20th century. William and Ann Swinton migrated to Australia in 1854 and for a decade William Swinton worked as a builder and carpenter in the Warrnambool area, erecting many buildings, including the Wangoom Presbyterian Church. In 1865 he opened a store in Timor Street, Warrnambool selling groceries, glassware and china. In 1888 the business was known as William Swinton and Sons. Branch shops were opened in Cudgee, Nullawarre, Wangoom, South Warrnambool and West Warrnambool. When William died his son Robert became the first managing director of Swintons Pty Ltd. In 1934 the business split in two with George Swinton and Sons selling furnishings, clothing and glassware and Swintons Pty Ltd selling seeds, hardware and produce. Today the Swinton family still operates a furniture and bedding store in Timor Street. This ledger is very important as an early memento of the Swinton Stores in Warrnambool. It gives details of sales in the 19th century and has material relating to the assets of the founder of the business, William Swinton at the time of his death. It is of great interest to researchers. The current family business in Timor Street Warrnambool is the oldest family business in Warrnambool and, with the Swinton name associated with businesses in Timor Street for 152 years, is among the oldest family businesses in Australia. This is a dark green hard cover ledger with light brown leather bindings on the spine and cover edges. There is gold lettering on the spine. The cover is stained and the leather is torn and partly detached in places. The insides of the cover have a blue and white mottled patterning. The pages are blue with printed red lines. The entries are handwritten in black ink. There are four loose pages and two pieces of a plant dried and preserved between two pages. ‘Day Book’ ‘Stock Book Warrnambool September 2nd 1869’ swinton family, warrnambool

This tin comes from the Melbourne firm of Rolfe and Co. and would have held tea. Rolfe & Co. was established by George Rolfe (Senior) in 1854 as a wholesale wine, spirit and provisions business. George Rolfe was a member of the Upper House of the Victorian Government from 1860 to 1862 and in 1867. He died in 1871 and his son, also George, succeeded him as the managing director of the business. This George Rolfe (1837-1919) came to Australia with his family in 1849 and lived first in South Australia and then came to Melbourne, joining his father’s business, George Rolfe was a keen farmer and fisherman and after holidaying in Warrnambool for some time, bought, in the early 1870s, the property at the mouth of the Hopkins River which he named Lyndoch after the town in South Australia. He came frequently to Warrnambool. He later extended his farming interests which included the properties of Fairy Hill and Shipley. George Rolfe married Jane Ann Lake in 1891 and the Lyndoch property passed to two of his stepdaughters. Today the Rolfe property is the site of an aged care facility. The business of Rolfe & Co. continued well into the 20th century.This tin is of great interest as a memento of George Rolfe of Lyndoch, Warrnambool and his Melbourne business, Rolfe & Co. George Rolfe was a prominent person in the Warrnambool district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is a metal container, rectangular in shape. It originally held tea. The sides of the tin have painted lettering regarding the contents and the supplier. This paint was originally in yellow, blue and brown tonings. The lid is round and slots into the rounded opening. The tin has been re-painted in a silver colour on the top and inside. The tin, especially the lettering on the sides, is much rusted and in some places the words are illegible. A small hole has been pierced in the top of the tin‘Rolfe’s Tea’ ‘Rolfe & Co. Ltd 300 King Street Melbourne’ rolfe & co, george rolfe senior, george rolfe junior, lyndoch, warrnambool

The handle of this hammer looks to be home-made and to have been used as a household tool. Most homes still today include a small hammer as a household item. The provenance of this hammer is unclear but it possible that it is the hammer found at ‘Guthrie’, a house in Merri Street, Warrnambool that was demolished. ‘Guthrie’ was the home of the Dickson family, prominent in Warrnambool business circles. James Dickson, with his friend John Cramond, established a store in Warrnambool in the mid 19th century and this department store, known as Cramond and Dickson, was a prominent business in Warrnambool until its closure in 1973. James Dickson’s son and his family lived at ‘Guthrie’ and the hammer may have belonged to the Dicksons or another family connected to that property. This hammer has a metal head and a wooden handle. The top of the handle has a metal screw inserted and small slivers of the wood are missing. The end of the metal section is much worn.household tools, history of warrnambool

The handle of this hammer looks to be home-made and to have been used as a household tool. Most homes still today include a small hammer as a household item. The provenance of this hammer is unclear but it possible that it is the hammer found at ‘Guthrie’, a house in Merri Street, Warrnambool that was demolished. ‘Guthrie’ was the home of the Dickson family, prominent in Warrnambool business circles. James Dickson, with his friend John Cramond, established a store in Warrnambool in the mid 19th century and this department store, known as Cramond and Dickson, was a prominent business in Warrnambool until its closure in 1973. James Dickson’s son and his family lived at ‘Guthrie’ and the hammer may have belonged to the Dicksons or another family connected to that property. This hammer has a metal head and a wooden handle. The top of the handle has a metal screw inserted and small slivers of the wood are missing. The end of the metal section is much worn.household tools, history of warrnambool, hammer

This corkscrew has obviously been used as a promotional handout for clients of James McGee and Co. Information on this firm has been difficult to find but there was a well-known commercial traveller, James McGee, resident in the Warrnambool district at the end of the 19th century and it is known that his sons headed a company, James McGee and Co. that bought Sheldrick’s New Brewery in Timor Street, Warrnambool, in 1894. This brewery had been founded in 1868. In 1922 the McGee company sold the goodwill of the Warrnambool brewery to the Ballarat, Melbourne Co-Operative and Carlton and United Breweries and the local brewery closed. No information has been found on Ballangarrock Whisky.This corkscrew is an important souvenir of the last few years of operations at the Warrnambool New Brewery in Timor Street. This business had operated in Warrnambool for over 50 years.This is a metal corkscrew with a wooden handle. There is black printing on the handle. This printing is faded in parts. The metal screw is rusty.‘Jas. W. McGee & Co. Importers Warrnambool’ ‘Drink Ballangarrock Whisky’ james mcgee & co., history of warrnambool