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. 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 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent 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 have 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 1850s to the late 1950s 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 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 Australian Race Vol 4 Author: Edward M Curr Publisher: Government Printer Melbourne Date: 1887 Further Information: Map in pocket at the back of vol Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library. Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum. Flyleaf has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, 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, the australian race vol 4

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Fortuna villa: originally a resplendent villa of two storeys comprising six rooms in the ground floor and five on the second. It was situated beside the New Chum line of reef and was of 350 square metres. In 1887 Fortuna was enlarged with the addition of a mansard between the billiard and music rooms. The entrance hall was demolished and replaced with the hall which stands today. Work continued until 1904 by which time Fortuna was three storeys high. The building was befitting any prince, and soon became an entertainment centre for notable visitors to Bendigo. The spacious gardens adorned with a Pompeii-style fountain and three lakes made Fortuna an idyllic mansion. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Photo: black and white photo of demolition of Portland House, Growler Street. Appended notes state ' Portland House, a wine house, owned by Cr. Babbage, demolished 1960.' Written on back of photo: ' The end of Portland House, Growler Street'cottage, miners, babbage, portland house, eaglehawk, growler street

Photo: partly demolished building, showing bakers oven, piles of timber on RH side and in front of oven. Notes indicate demolition by T. Noble.cottage, miners, jenkins baker shop, bakery, demolition

Photo: black and white photo of bakers oven, appears that building has been demolished and wall left standing with oven mostly intact. In front of photo: piles of timber. Appended notes state that photo was ' identified by Mrs. White, Phillips St. as Jenkins Baker Shop'cottage, miners, jenkins baker shop, bakery, brick, bakers oven.

Typed Addendum for Page 9. Mentioned is the initials of Captain Truscott who was officer in charge of the Long Gully Fire Brigade from 1919 to 1920 was A T Tony. Next is after the brigade was deregistered the station was demolished and rebuilt at Haggar St Eaglehawk for use as a bakery. It traded under the name of Dingle's Modern Bakery. After World War 2 it was taken over by a bedding company, then later RAOB Buffalo Lodge Hall. Cornish humour and dialect is also mentioned. They prefaced a number of words with a H.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - addendum page 9, captain truscott, long gully fire brigade, a t tony, mr h p (harry) dingle, dingle's modern bakery, world war 2, raob buffalo lodge hall, cfbb

A black and white photograph of the now demolished 'Sandhurst Coffee Palace' which was situated in Mitchell Street at the corner of Mollison Street, Bendigo. It was a two storey wooden building with verandas and ornate pediments. St. Paul's Cathedral can be seen on the left on the sky line and some people are standing on the balcony. A bike rider is in the foreground along with a lady under the veranda.buildings, commercial, sandhurst coffee palace, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo, buildings, sandhurst coffee palace, coffee palace, mitchell street, accommodation, bendigo accommodation, students, tertiary education, teacher training, bendigo teachers' college, education, photograph, photographs, photography

Black and white photograph of Bendigo Arcade or Abbott's Arcade (as it was known). Northern end of Arcade. Inscriptions: in image - 'E J Brown's Bookshop and Circulating Library', 'Glory Box, Chinese Handwork, Sunray Pleating, Spoke stitching, Phone', 'Prices, the Watch People'. On back - 'TLC No. 55', Bottom LHC in ink 'Bendigo Arcade, A Doney'. History of object: Historic arcade opened c.1892. Demolished c.1960. James Lerk 2000 'EJ Brown's Bookshop and Circulation Library (CL) further down on left 'The Glory Box'. Opposite Brown's 'Prices jewellers and watch repairs' Interesting photo. Uncluttered as compared to other photo (531). Was arcade modelled on Royal Arcade Melbourne? (Charles Murray 16.2.2001).Alan Doney - Bendigoplace, arcade, bendigo arcade, see also 2001.021.01

Black and white photograph on brown board mount. Tree lined street, buildings including Bendigo Town Hall, portion at the Market buildings. Weatherboard single storey shop / houses? One site appears to be being demolished, paling fence. Inscriptions: in image - hand printed BL corner 'Perc Pinder, Bendigo'. On board at front TR corner 'MP 130'. On back - hand written in ballpoint pen 'Hargreave St between Mundy and Chapel Sts, south side of street, Jewish synagogue on Hopetown St is in background', 'MP 130'.Perc Pinderplace, streetscape, hargreaves street

black and white photograph: cottage, galvanised iron roof, stone construction. Central door, sash windows, 2 chimneys. Right of photo word ' Boar' Picture taken late Autumn. Handwritten in ink ' City Hotel, Barnard St., Cnr. Mercy Street ' Written in pencil ' this is the Mercy Street entrance, demolished in the 1950's'. Occupiers ' Mrs. W. Moore, board and residence later - Mrs Burns confectionary, shop about 1914. Later - Nielson Family 1920's - 1930's to ? ( Will Nielson was night worker at Cohn's Brewery )buildings, residential, cottage

Black and white photograph, rendered brick 2 storey building, parapet, single storey section at back with tall square brick chimney. Includes bus shelter, electricity pole with transformer. 2 small trees plnated in nature strip. Rocks around trees. ' The Technical and Further education 'Ted Thompson'building under construction C 1982. In the centre is the former Royal Princess Hotel (now shown as A. W. Pulfer Motors), on the corner of Mundy and Hargreaves Streets which was demolished in February 1983. Specimen Cottage is to the right. ' On back '11' Ward/A/FSP/1204' 'O'organization, education, tafe college

Burnt Gully - possibly near Woodvale. a. Black and white photo: men standing behind, alongside bagged grain. Steam farm engine on RH side. Written on rear of photo: threshing team at lunch engine Ruston Procter steam. 8 horse power, single cylinder, working pressure 75 lbs per square inch. 80 revs per minte. Fly wheel 6 feet in diameter. b. Pilcher's thresher on Robert Riley's farm, Burnt Gully. Bullock drivers Bill Pilcher, Paddy Mulcair. Bullock drawn threshing machine, large group of men standing alongside and to rear of machine. Two men standing on top of thresher. Steam traction engine on far left of photo. c. Pioneer log cabin Burnt Gully, the home of the Grafton family, demolished about 1930. Hut of slab construction, with corruated iron roof over timber slats. Chimney of logs and slabs topped with bricks on LH side of house. Steam farm machine in background on LH side.unknownagriculture, farm, grafton familyh, robert riley, bill pilcher, paddy mulcair, burnt gully.

Black and white photo of Sandhurst Post Office Bendigo. View street. 1861. This building opened June 1858 and was demolished 1867. A new Post Office was built on same site. The building behind the lamp is the Shamrock Hotel. People standing out front.place, building, post office

1. Mechanics Institute:- this building was built in 1883 and designed by H E Tolhurst. It included a library, reading room, museum, billiard room and mineral collection. 2. Town Hall:- the current building was built in 1901 on the site of an earlier Town Hall. The architects were Williamson& Permewan of Melbourne. 3. Cannons:- were recovered from HMVS Nelson, a wooden steam ship that was one of the first of the colonies warships when it was on permanent loan from Britain from 1867. It ws then broken up in 1929. 4. Symbester Coach House:- this house and the adjacent ginger beer factory (now demolished) were built in 1859 for William Bruce (1834-1916) a publican and manufacturer of aerated drinks.Nine Slides of Scenes around Eaglehawk - Photographer unknown Mechanics Institute Town Hall with the Post Office on the left and mechanics institute on the right Cannon with the post office behind Mine Poppet Head - Eaglehawk - exact location unknown Former Coach house - Symbester Crescent Eaglehawkhistory, bendigo, eaglehawk, symbester house eaglehawk, eagelhawk town hall, eaglehawk mechanics institute, eaglehawk post office, poppet head

The Presbyterian congregation began in 1854. The first St Andrews church was built in Myers Street in 1859 but this was demolished and the current stuccoed brick building was built in 1930. The first services were held 29/11/1930.Twenty-four pages booklet titled St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bendigo. Centenary brochure 1854-1954. The front cover is brown with the Presbyterian Church of Australia logo in the middle. The booklet details the history of the first one hundred years of the church. Also, inside the book two newspaper articles from 03 August 1963 on the opening of new Sunday school.st. andrew's presbiteryan church, centenary, history of st andrew's church, 1854-1954

The Royal Princess Theatre, 73 View St., Bendigo, was designed by William Charles Vahland and opened on 31/8/1874. It had a capacity of 2000 and was lit by gas until 1898 when electricity became available. The original proprietors were John Croley (1827-1899) and William (Billy) Heffernan (1840-1899). It was Bendigo's first permanent picture house in 1910, with it's first showing being the silent film "The Desert Song". It closed in 1930 before reopening in 1936 after being rebuilt in the Art Deco style. The theatre was finally closed in May 1963 and was demolished.Eight pages souvenir programme. 1874-1955 Royal Princess, Bendigo. Eighty first birthday souvenir programme 31st August 1955. Manager: Don Vincent, price: sixpence, proceeds: cinematograph trade benevolent fund. There is a one-page history of the theatre by Don Vincent. The programme includes stage performances and the screening of "seven brides for seven brothers".royal princess theatre, souvenir programme, eighty first birthady, 1874-1955

Erected in 1888 by Robert Milburn and family, the coffee palace on the corner of Mollison and Mitchell Streets was opposite the entrance to the railway station and as such provided ready access for travellers. Built at a cost of L4000, it consisted of 40 rooms that provided retail outlets and a ballroom on the ground floor and accommodation on the upper level. In 1945 it was converted to provided hostel accommodation for 43 student teachers. The building was demolished in the 1980's.An ink and pencil drawing of the Bendigo Coffee Palace signed by Bill Klemmer in 1968. The drawing reproduces the building like it would have looked in 1875.bendigo, sandhurst coffee palace, drawing, bill klemmer

Postcard. Bendigo Arcade, Pall Mall C. 1960 (Demolished 1975). Note. National Bank to the right.

Base map Australian map grid of Eaglehawk area. Map has letter attached from the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, 22 March, 1990, addressed to Felicity Kingerlie, BHS, requesting information regarding the historic mining sites marked on the map. Sites marked are: A. Golden Age Mine, engine mountings present B. Johnson's No. 2 Mine, engine mountings, old boiler foundations C. Johnson's No. 1 Mine, mullock retaining wall made from sandstone, engine mountings, remains of old building demolished? D. Toma's Eucalyptus Factory, old boiler still there, boiler shed, chimney (remnants of) outlet drain, distilling vats, dam, remnant of winch. E. New Argus Mine,mullock heap F. New Moon Mines Dams (1) stone walls G. North Lightning Hill Mine, engine mountings, quartz retainer wall, Pascoe and Simmons open cuts and other open cuts here too H. New Prince of Wales Mine and Poppet Head I. Quarry site for stone, excavation (for miners cottages in Clarke Street) J. Lancashire open cut mine K. Virginia Hill (cynaide vats etc) L. South Prince of Wales mine, now capped and fenced M (possibly ) Catherine United Mine, engine mountings, battery mountings?bendigo, mining, eaglehawk mines

Black and white photo taken circa 1907 at Princes Street, Campbells Creek (Rantar's Gully). Sparnon house built 1862, demolished circa 1910, original home of John Sparnon and wife Bessie Peters Sparnon (nee Tyack/Teague). At this time (1907) Stow's were living there. Left to right: Joe Stow, stepson of Joe Stow and wife Kate (nee Sparnon). Annie Stow, daughter of Joe Stow and wife Kate (nee Sparnon). Unknown. Bessie Stow of Joe Stow and wife Kate (nee Sparnon). ''Jinny'' Jane Peters Stow of Joe Stow and wife Kate (nee Sparnon) born 1900. (Cliff) Arthur Clifford Gray son of Fred Gray and Kate (nee Teague) on bike. Out of the photo on the damaged paert probably Willam Stow eldest son of Joe and Kate. the photo was copied by Jim Goodwin.house, private, campbells creek

Bendigo Weekly from Friday, 4 February, 2000. Article by James Lerk in the series ''Discover Bendigo'' titled: John Rae is required to move, Rae's ironbark School was demolished in August 1900.school, history, ironbark hill school

Sandhurst Hotel, corner of Lyttleton Terrace and St Andrew Avenue, Bendigo. Demolished to make way for the new City Council Offices. 114 years old.slide, bendigo, sandhurst hotel, sandhurst hotel