Extracts from the Sales register of T.R.B. Morton (1897 - !906) including names of people well known in Nunawading.t. r. b. morton & son, wainwright, (mrs), blood, sophia, hodgson, ellen, boyle, joseph, william james, bloom, alfred, cook, edmund a., greig, alfred woolley, crow, robert t., william hill, course, florence rebecca, charles, finger, charles henry, fankhauser, robert c, john, farmilo, hubert henry, fulton, margaret, game, thomas robinson, husband (mrs), henwood, william, dashwood, f.r., samuel j.m., blake, arthur palmer., horkings, hurter, c.e., john henry, janet, hone, robert arthur, henry john, joyner, herbert, jeffery, mary ann, keogh, james, lieber, otto, methodist boys home, purches, frederick walter, rooks, charles francis, abraham, edmund, sarah, scott, eliza emma, sergeant, frederick, henry, pickett, tainton, brock, mary theresa, thiele, ambrose frederick, walker, edgar edwardes, mary jane, zander

Coloured photo of The Governor of Victoria's Invitation to Mr. Thomas Richards Burrowes Morton & Lady to attend Celebrations in Melbourne.morton thomas richards burrowes

Black and white photo of Thomas Richard Burrowes Morton's home, 'Clonmore', Gordon Crescent, Blackburn built in 1888.morton thomas richards burrowes, blackburn, clonmore

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, 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 WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. 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 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 from 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 NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY 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 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. 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. 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. In The Steps of The Master Author: H V Morton Publisher: Rich & Cowan Ltd Date: 1st Published October 1934 The label on spine cover with typed text PAT 915.6 MOR Inside the front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Inside the front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Serviceflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, 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, in the steps of the master, h v morton

Burgundy Coloured Case with Hypodermic Syringe 1915. Used when nursing her grandmother by Miss Morton 1900'sstawell

Coloured photo of Commonwealth of Australia - Invitation to Mr. Thomas Richards Burrowes Morton & Lady to attend the Opening of Parliament of the Commonwealth.morton thomas richards burrowes

Coloured photo of The Government of Victoria's Invitation to Mr. Thomas Richards Burrowes Morton to Royal Review 10/5/1901.morton thomas richards burrowes

Blue and white badge - 'Blackburn Carnival Jan 26-28, 1929' 'Proceeds for Morton Park and Scouts Improvement Funds'numismatics, badges

Coloured photo of Minister of State's Invitation to Mr. Thomas Richards Burrowes Morton to attend an Evening Reception 9/5/1901.morton thomas richards burrowes

Workers from the Blackburn Level Crossing Removal Authority attended the Morton Park Remembrance Day ceremony and thanked the veterans in attendance.renshaw, will, joan, morton, park, remembrance day, level crossing removal authority

SAME\ AS ND280Auction of fruit garden sold by W.H. Richards 1915 for subdivision into 20 home lots in Blackburn. Auctioneers T.R.B. Morton & Co.Auction of fruit garden land subdivision, richards, w.h., t. r. b. morton & son, orchards, blackburn

House on the corner of Blackburn Road and Gordon Crescent Blackburn.Black and white photo of Louisa Mary Esther Morton (c1880), taken at her home on the corner Gordon Crescent and Blackburn Road, Blackburn.morton thomas richards burrowes, morton, louisa mary esther

Coloured photo of Australian Commonwealth's Invitation to Mr. Thomas Richards Morton & Lady to attend a Conversazione 7/5/1901 (2 copies).morton thomas richards burrowes

The State Government budget has included allocations for Koonung Secondary College, Morton Park, North East Link and the Blackburn Sikh Temple.The State Government budget has included allocations for Koonung Secondary College, Morton Park, North East Link and the Blackburn Sikh Temple.koonung secondary college, secondary schools, morton park, blackburn, sikh temple, blackburn, north east link

32 page book on early colonial architecture in Australia, written by Morton Herman, as part of a series The Arts in Australia. Colour photograph on front cover.architecture, colonial australia

The land sales in the area stopped due to the 1890s depression. For the next 20 years real estate sales virtually stopped until after WWI.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleThe Hill Estate, Highett - 110 allotments - Auction Saturday September 22, 1917 T.R.B. Morton & Sonpoint nepean road (nepean highway), turner street, sanford street, alfred street, peace street, highett, real estate, moorabbin

Photocopy of letter from T.R.B. Morton & Son to Messrs McLean & Gall, Mitcham re valuation of shop and dwelling in McGlone's estate. March 1924 Mitcham.land values, mcglone estate, mitcham, t. r. b. morton & son

Letter dated 21 May 1926 from G. Morton to M. L. Davey re valuation of the estate of James Tainton in Springvale Road, Tunstall.Letter dated 21 May 1926 from G. Morton to M. L. Davey re valuation of the estate of James Tainton land values, tainton, james, springvale road, nunawading, morton, g, orchards

Black and white photo of traders horse drawn carts in Blackburn Railway Yards in 1923. Looking east. Note Morton Hall and the South Parade in the background.blackburn railway station, morton hall, south parade blackburn, carts and wagons, shops blackburn

Used in 'Blackburn - a picturesque history' by Robin Da CostaBlack & white photo of Thomas Richards Burrowes Morton 1854 -1923.C See page 10 of DeCosta book. Biography see page 52morton thomas richards burrowes