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 November1884 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 fund raising 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 court house 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 historic 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 Historic 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 art works 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. Cabinet Timbers of Australia Author: R T Baker Publisher: Government Printer Sydney Date: 1913Label on spine cover with typed text RA 691.1 BAK Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Librarywarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, cabinet timbers of australia, r t baker

Collection of Newspaper clippings from Scrap Book 1960 - 1973Newspaper article on awarding of 3rd Life Membership of Warley Hospital to Mrs L R Dixon (Molly).warley hospital, life membership warley hospital, mrs l r dixon, jean jamieson

In 2003 an application by Gamut Holdings for a 5 storey building consisting of apartments, medical centre, shops and cafe on a site on the corner of Lambourn and Devonshire Roads Watsonia was approved by VCAT despite strong local opposition. These documents relate to the VCAT hearingCorrespondence relating to VCAT hearing P2461/2003, addressed to R Bray and notice to residents re hearingwatsonia, lambourn road watsonia, devonshire road watsonia

PATTERN 37 Webbing complete with Pistol Holster & Ammunition Pouch X Sgt. R. Andrews VX145887equipment, ww2, army

Paper badge in clear plastic holder with pin. (Typed name: J R Powell Geelong College).

Yellow soft cover booklet being nominal Roll 2/9 Australian Armoured R regimentarmour, nominal roll, wwii, world war two

An original letter from C. R. Stilwell (Mr Bush's store manager) reporting to A. Bush 1896.

Pink shiny CD-R with photos fro the events during the 100 years of women's participation eventsphotographs, sufferage, official events

Plan by Public Works Dept., Melbourne. M. Drake (draughtsman), R. G. Wilson, Chief Architect.m. drake, g.r. wilson

Black and white photograph - Grade 5B, 1954"Attached to photograph" Back Row- L to R: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Graeme John, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?. 2nd Row - L to R: ?, ?, ?, Nicolette Allsop, ?, ?, ?, Merilyn White, ?, ?. 3rd Row - L to R: No names. Front Row - L to R: No names. Teacher:

Black and white photograph - Grade 1D, 1974"Attached to photograph" Back Row- L to R: ?, ?, ?, Kevin Crane, ?, ?, ?, ?. 2nd Row- L to R: ?, ?, ?, Wendy Clarke, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?. 3rd Row- L to R: No names Front Row- L to R: No names Teacher: Mrs Whitney

Black and white photograph - Grade 1C,1960"Attached to photograph" Back Row- L to R: No names 2nd Row- L to R: 2nd from right - Gwen Jones 3rd Row- L to R: No names Front Row- L to R: No names Teacher:

1951 Ballarat Teachers’ College offers a two year trained Primary Teachers’ Certificate for the first time. (BTC Handbook 1965) December 1955 Ballarat Teachers’ College held its first Graduation Ceremony. The words of the Graduation Hymn were written by Mavis Canty. (BTC Handbook 1965)Light blue cover with dark blue and yellow text, back cover cream soft covered annual magazine of the Ballarat Teachers College. Includes yearly events. The Ballarat Teachers' College 1955 Second Year Students and Staff photo includes (left to right): Back row: C. ussing, R. Flavell, R. Jones, P. Dawson, W. Hughes, B. Williams, F. Tinney. 2nd row: B. Jones, B. Hancorne, R. Potter, I. Neilson, K. Holloway, I. Pritchard, G. Maggs. 3rd row: C. Handreck, Keith Hamilton, J. Carter, L. Harper, E. Lynes, J. Rae, B. McCleary, M. Joyce, J. Matthews, B. Harrison, E. Lewis, B. Moore. 4th row: D. Thompson, M. Bone, J. Cotter, C. Bolte, D. Powrie, L. Edge, S. Edwards, D. Cleary, B. McIntyre, F. Dridan, B. Connellan, L. Martin. 5th row: A. Nailon, M. McCallum, E. Medwell, M. Meagher, J. Butler, E. Dobson, J. Black, M. Anderson, W. Hanstock, M. Harris, G. Bowers. 6th Row: M. Casey, M. Crocker, B. Heath, W. Hall, U. Dempster, J. Burns, I. Bradshaw, J. Sanders, M. Williamson, Z. Walker, J. Brehaut, B. Boadle. 7th row: M. Fraser, Howard Pattenden, J. Gould, M. Byrne, A. Hancock. J. Murphy, M. Morgan, E. Ingleton, V. Rance, M. Walker, J.M. Blair, R.R. Reed. Front Row: J.M. Hill, J, Fox, A.H. Linton, Bob Croft, Ted Doney, Monica Miller, T.W.H. Turner, Mavis Canty, Alan Sonsee, E.O. Walpole, C.A. Pryor, C. Rodger, G.A. Jenkins. Has autographs on inside of back cover: John M Blair, Margaret R Chasey, Elizabeth Constable, Jean W Black, George A Jenkins, Clarice Handreckbtc, ballarat teachers' college, black, sanders, williamson, jm blair, c handreek, m meagher, e ingleton, w hall, s mclay, j roberts, bremner, flavell, chasey, mccleary, williams, ross, hamilton, keith hamilton, croft, bob croft, walpole, sonsee, canty, miller, pryor, turner, rodger, jenkins, linton, fox, hill, doney, pattenden

One of a collection of 4 photographs donated by Ian Hannan.Large Black & White photograph of local schoolchildren with puppets. Back Row, L-R: Julie Duggan, Lorraine Spaven, Kaye Jeffrey, Howard Dixon. Front Row, L-R: Jenny Jones, Pat Grachan, Shirley Booth, Ian Ferguson, Donald Cameron.puppeteers, ian hannan, cowes state school, donald cameron., howard dixon., lorraine spaven, kaye jeffrey, pat grachan, julie duggan, jenny jones, shirley booth

Black and white photograph of sketch of workmen at mine site. Air ventilators on top of mine shafts to R. Wheelbarrow at R foreground. Wind socks or sails were used to ventilate the holes. History: 'Victoria Reef 1857, Frank Cusack after a photograph by Alex Fox.Alex Foxmine, gold, victoria hill, book 'bendigo, the german chapter' by frank cusack. p52., mines and mining, mine, place, workers, miners, mining equipment, equipment, frank cusack, history

Blue coupon, dated May 2nd 1877, asking Mr. Lewis, Treasurer to pay R. Coath & W. H. Nicholas the sum of 30/- for Delegates to District. Signed by R. Coath, C.R. and Wm Rowe, Secretary. Also signed by Wm. H. Nicholas. G.W..societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no 3770 collection - to pay, court king of the forest, a.o.f., b.u.d., mr lewis, r coath, w h nicholas, wm rowe