The Junction Dam and Clover Dam Power Station, stages of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, were needed to meet the increased power demands of the wartime industry in Victoria. Clover added 26 megawatts to the grid. Junction Dam was completed and ready to hold water by September 1943, but was emptied in December 1943 and not filled again until May 1944. Construction of Clover Power Station commenced in July 1941 and both turbines were in service by May 1945.Clover Power Station and Junction Dam were part of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme constructed by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. SECV official photographers took photographs of most stages of construction of the Hydro Electric Scheme and referenced each photo with a number and dating system as an historical record and for reference for other projects. This provided a thorough history of the construction of the Hydro Electric Scheme, some of the workers involved in its construction and the infrastructure supporting its construction, such a Bogong Village.Small light brown cardboard box originally containing sensitized photographic paper, now containing a range of black and white photographs of the Kiewa Hydro Electric System taken by the official SECV photographer Box has some damage – Front panel on lid is missing. Top has a puncture in top right corner and some peeling of paper along sides and at edges. Printed on the top of the box in black ink: OPEN ONLY IN PHOTOGRAPHIC DARK ROOM SENSITIZED PAPER Manufactured by – KODAK (A/asia) PTY. LTD. Melbourne Australia Green and white sticker on right side of lid and bottom right side of box, torn at join 1. 1B1 Single Weight Soft. Available in Soft (1) Medium (2) Contrast (3) Extra Contrast (4) Single and Double Weight Stamped at bottom of sticker in grey ink G8087 CK photographic paper box; state electricity commission of victoria; official photographer; kiewa hydro electric scheme; clover power station; junction dam; bogong village

This set of books was given to Cornelius (Con) O’Mahony in 1883 when he won the Bowen Prize Essay Competition awarded by the University of Melbourne. The Bowen Prize was established in 1874 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir George Bowen. This was then awarded annually to the person who was a student or ex-student of the University of Melbourne who wrote the best essay on matters relating to British and British Empire history or literature. Con O’Mahony’s essay was on the Federation of the Australian Colonies. Con O’Mahony, born in Bendigo, studied at Melbourne University in the early 1880s. He was a lawyer in Kepler Street, Warrnambool from the late 1880s to his death in 1920, firstly in partnership with E. Klingender and later operating under the name of O’Mahony and Murray. These books are most important because: 1. They are a very attractive set of books with considerable antiquarian value. 2. They were given as the prize for winning the 1883 Bowen Prize at Melbourne University – a prestigious award still today. 3. They were given for a prize-winning essay on the advantages of Federation in Australia. The essay was written 17 years before Federation and so they forms an interesting part of the Australia-wide campaign for Federation. 4. The prize books were awarded to Con O’Mahony who played his part in Warrnambool’s late 19th century and early 20th century history as a prominent lawyer in the town for over 30 years.These ten volumes of books have hard covers in a dark red colour with a gold leather spine and leather reinforcements on the edges of the front and back covers. The front cover has an embossed gold emblem of the University of Melbourne and the spine has ornamental gold, black and red patterning and gold lettering. The insides of the cover have blue, red and orange mottled patterning and this is repeated on the edging of the pages. There are approximately 400 pages in each volume. A typed page on the Bowen Prize is inserted in the front of the first volume and the inscription on every volume is handwritten in black ink. The covers are a little scuffed and slightly torn in some volumes. Volume 1: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst Mch 1883’ Volumes 11, 111, 1V, V, V1, V111, 1X, X: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst 2 July 1883’ Volume V11: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst 1883’ con o’mahony, bowen prize, history of warrnambool, federation movement in australia

These plans have been drawn by Steve Hester for the Warrnambool City Council to illustrate the allotments in Warrnambool concerned with the subdivisions of 1989. The streets have not been named but there is an indication of the area with the identification of known buildings (eg Hospital) and the plan numbers of each allotment is clearly marked. These numbers corresponded to the plan numbers registered in card files and ledgers in the Warrnambool City Council offices. The scale of the plans was 1 to 5000. These plans are of considerable interest because they show Warrnambool street subdivisions of 1989 in illustrative form. They show how information was collated in the late 1980s before the widespread use of computer digital means to describe and store information.These are five hand-drawn sheets showing plans of sub-divisions in Warrnambool streets in 1989 (Warrnambool City Council material). The plans are multi-coloured (crayons) and show allotments with plan numbers. The first plan has much of the material torn off but the location is known to be in the Russells Creek area. Some of the green tape around the edges is missing. Plans two to five are almost intact and are bound with green tape. Plan Two- Industrial Estate of West Warrnambool; Plan Three – Hospital/Merrivale/ Lake Pertobe areas; Plan Four – North Warrnambool, Wollaston/Brierly areas; Plan Five – Flaxman Street area. ‘Subdivision Plan, Reference Guide, Steve Hester, Oct. 1989’. warrnambool street subdivisions, steve hester, history

J.F.Warren Invoice: Cream paper with red print. Torn left bottom half. Economic Timber and Iron yards. NO. 1 Ironmongery and Office, Market Square. No 2 Sawn Timber (Hard & Soft), Cement. Gal. Iron. &c. Opposite School of Mines, (Hargreaves St. E.) No. 3 Split Timber, Palings, Pickets, &c. (Hargreaves Street East). To: Mrs Waldock. Sandhurst May 9th 1891. Please receive from J.F Warren, The undermentioned Goods in good order and condition:- General Importer. For 30 Yards 36 x 2 netting £10. Paid J.F.Warren per S. H. Box 625.Printed at 'The Bendigo Independent' Office.business, retail, house furnishings, j.f. warren. mrs waldock.

Cyanide Operation Records (April 1900-March 1901; Statements/Petty Cash April 1900 -March 1901. Listed as #10 - only as Cyanide operation records. Cyanide operation records are headed on each page as ‘‘Vats for (month (year)''. Operation Records and financial statements are entered separately from the front and back of the book. In centre, between these entries are some torn out pages plus handwritten copy of a draft?? Letter to The Hon the Minister of Mines re some miners' ''unfortunate situation'' - requesting an interview in relation to the matter concerning a mining lease issue and trespass. No name is attached as a signature to indicate the author of said letter.bendigo, industry, sebastian cyanide works, cyanide operation records

Perforated pro-forma call-up card from Department of Labour and National Service : National Service Registration Office addressed to Mr N E Swainston, 37 Leamington St, Reservoir Vic, dated 01/10/70 with Registration Number 21765955. Specific details are typed in black ink, and the document is signed by registrar W K Allen. Back of card advises recipient that he will be given at least 7 days' notice of the time and place for the medical, and that it is his responsibility to notify changes in marital status or address. Envelope is marked O.H.M.S, National Service Registration Papers and torn open at bottomnational service - australia, conscription, call-up, swainston collection

Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat tramways and how they were presented at the commencement of the SEC fare system. Generally issued c1966 following decimal currency, not formally used.Two number - 2 No. - Paper SEC ticket - 12c in value, (Twelve cents) - orange ink on off white paper, numbered A198304 and 305. The ticket price is in brown ink while the ticket number itself is in black ink. On rear in brown ink is a diagonal criss cross or tartan pattern. Tickets have not been used, torn complete from block. Have not been numbered on rear. All tickets and Reg Item 4006, 4007, 4009 to 4018 were received originally in a folded cloth wrapper - wax canvas? - see Reg item 4009. See Alan Bradley notes on SEC tickets. trams, tramways, secv, ticket, transfer tickets

Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat tramways and how they were presented at the commencement of the SEC fare system. Generally issued c1966 following decimal currency, not formally used.Three number - 3 No. - Paper SEC ticket - 8c in value, (Eight cents) - green ink on off white paper, numbered B157289, 290 and 291. The ticket price is in green ink while the ticket number itself is in black ink. On rear in green ink is a diagonal criss cross or tartan pattern. Tickets have not been used, torn complete from block. Have not been numbered on rear. All tickets and Reg Item 4006, 4007, 4009 to 4018 were received originally in a folded cloth wrapper - wax canvas? - see Reg item 4009. See Alan Bradley notes on SEC tickets. trams, tramways, secv, ticket, transfer tickets

Extract Hansard, Legislative Council, 2/10/1968, titled "Ballarat and Bendigo Tramways - Proposed Abandonment". Sir Percy Byrnes moved that the proposed abandonment by the SEC be not made. Pages 471 to 494 reports on the speach by Sir Percy, I.A. Swinburne who seconded the motion, V.O. Dickie who opposed the motion for the Government. Others who spoke were , F. J. Granter, F.S. Grimwade, J.M. Tripovich. The Motion was supported by the Country and Labor parties who had the numbers in the upper house. Pages have been torn from Hansard and stapled together in the top left hand corner.trams, tramways, parliament, closure, sec, ballarat, bendigo

The Wodonga Police register dated to 1855-1857 provides a record of the names of police officers and details of their day-to-day duties, including crimes committed and steps taken to trace and apprehend perpetrators. It has several references to Robert O'Hara Burke, who was a soldier, police officer in Victoria, and well-known explorer in the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition.The Wodonga police register has local significance due to the detailed information and date in the 1850s, which was before Wodonga became a separate Shire from Yackandandah Shire. It is also significant on a state and national level as an example of early police records. The detailed information provides significant research and interpretive potential. Green leather and faded green and brown marbled paper bound register or diary, recording the day-to-day duties of the Wodonga Police in 1855-1857. Pale blue watermarked paper with faint lines in the interior. Every second page has been removed and there is staining on some of the pages.The entries are written in iron gall ink and are deteriorated/faded in places. Red-brown and green marbled paper on the interior front and back covers, with linen binding. There are three small red wax seals on the inside front cover used to secure an introductory page of writing. The paper around the seals is torn and the page has become detached. Fragmentary inscription written on paper on the green leather spine.wodonga police, robert o'hara burke, police records, police register, wodonga, police journal, police diary

Tickets printed and issued by the Victorian Railways for the Sandringham to Black Rock electric street railway or tramway. The line closed in 1956. All tickets numbered for accounting purposes.Yields information about the VR Ticketting System for its Tramways.Set of 3 Victorian Railways Sandringham to Black Rock electric tramway ticket blocks. Printed on white sheets, stapled at the top with a large staple onto a cardboard backing strip. Each value in red ink with black print information. Each block has the ticket number printed on the stub of the ticket that remained with the block when torn off. Were printed in blocks of 200. 1 - 2d - Nos 677805 to 677986 - rear cardboard backing removed along with a number of tickets. 2 - 2d - Nos 80012 to 80185 with tickets and stubs removed at the rear. 3 - 3d - Nos. 40022 to 400189 - as above. tickets, vr, vr trams, victorian railways, fares, sandringham, black rock tramway

Newspaper Clipping - from the Melbourne Herald Sun Pictorial newspaper - 8/ 9/1928 about the derailment after running through the catch points of a maximum traction tramcar at the Riversdale Road level crossing the previous day 7/9/1928. The front bogie or truck has been torn from underneath the tramcar. On the rear is a report of a boxing match in Winnipeg the previous Friday, between NZ born Bert Brown and Vic Foley. A web search (boxrec.com/boxer/90347) accessed 1/11/2016 shows the match took place on 6/9/1928. A check with The Sun microfilm at the State Library shows the paper was published on 8/9/1928 Study of the photo, discussions with Norm Cross, particularly with regard to the positioning of the numbers; can see "12", the 2 being centred in the panel, indicates the other number could be a "1". Consultation with the record cards indicate it is most likely tram 121. See images i3. Released back in service 21/3/1929 after relatively expensive accident repairs. See Reg Item 6377 for other photographs.Yields information about the amount of damage to the tram following a derailment to a maximum traction tram at Riversdale Road in 1928.Newspaper clipping from The Melboune Herald Sun 8-9-1928 - not dated.tramways, tramcars, derailments, accidents, level crossings, riversdale road, tram 121, n class

This book is a memento of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York to Melbourne in May 1901, they came here to open the first Commonwealth Parliament of AustraliaThe book is part of a collection from the H H Bradley family, the other items are personal invitations to the opening of the first Parliament.Paperback Book. an 80 page book with soft card covers bound with green cloth binding, mainly pictorial, of their visit to opening of the 1st Commonwealth Parliament of Austrlia with a description with each photo in black and white, the cover is partly dark brown with the rest there is a photo of a river on the bottom right hand corner and the book title on the left within a scrolled frame and the dark brown background. front and back cover quite grubby, bottom right had corner missing and torn 20+20mm, a finger nail size missing middle right hand side, bottom left hand corner next to binding has a 22+25mm Piece missing

The only information available on this plate is what is written on the base. No other information has been found on Mrs Playford or Thomas and Mary Annerley. Perhaps the plate came to into the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society via the old Warrnambool Museum. The plate has no known local provenance and is kept because of its age and interesting monogram. This is a circular-shaped china plate (probably a dinner plate) with a fluted edge. The edging of the plate has red and gold ornamentation with garlands of flowers in green, pink, mauve and orange. There are four posies of flowers around the bowl of the plate in the same colouring with the addition of blue. In the centre of the plate is a large gold monogram – ‘T.M.A.’ On the base of the plate is a piece of paper partly torn off giving some details of the history of the plate in handwriting. This paper is pasted on to the base of the plate obscuring any maker’s mark that there may be. The plate has been broken into four pieces and stuck together again using five metal clips. There are some chips around the edge of the plate. Monogram: ‘T.M.A.’ ) (Thomas and Mary Annerley) Note on base: ‘… … the property of Mrs Playford of … St. Brighton (and formerly belonged to her great grandmother). Mrs Playford died in her 91st year and left it with some other pieces of the service to William Rodgers of Wellington St., St. Kilda. Monogram, T.M.A, Thomas & Mary Annerley. Copy of signed statement, 1909’ mrs playford, thomas and mary annerley

The royal blue front hard cover has gold scroll work around the edges and an embossed image of two flying angels representing the arts and literature. It also has an image of a quill and a paint brush and gold printing. The cover is stained and is frayed around the edges. The spine has embossed symbols and printing and has been mended with adhesive tape on the inside. The title on the spine is _The Graphic Illustrated Newspaper Vol 35 Jany to June 1887 London 90 Strand. The pages are gilt edged and contain copies of the weekly paper commencing January first. There are black and white and coloured illustrations. The frontispiece has a covering piece of badly torn tissue.fictionA bound copy of a British magazine which was published weekly vintage magazines, the graphic, the graphic 1887, warrnambool

This early tobacco tin was manufactured in England and imported to the "colony" Australia at the beginning of the 1900s. This manufacturer had won the Gold Medal at the Liverpool International Exhibition in 1884. This tobacco would have therefore been very expensive to purchase making it a must for the wealthier client of the Kiewa Valley. The Golden Flake Cavendish smells of the man of wealth and position. In this era the type of dress and the brand of tobacco smoked showed everyone at first glance where the man using it was on the social ladder and his pecking order. With the demise of tobacco smoking in the early 2000s clothes themselves do not show the pecking order in that quickly visualised manner, as at the time of manufacture of this tobacco tin. In the 21st century the level that men are in the socio economic field is realized on "the social information" available on the internet.This tobacco tin relays a long ago era, when personal contact, and not something that has been written down by some "unknown", was valued as the true appraisal of a member of the community. This was especially relevant in a small regional area such as the Kiewa Valley. Although social networking was not as fast then as the internet provides now, appearances, manners, fashion and etiquette with first impressions high on the order of evaluating someone in the community. Pointer such as the brand of tobacco smoked was part of the rural assessment method. Up until the demise of the Australian Tobacco Industry, circa 2004, the Kiewa Valley and surrounding district was part of a vibrant producer of tobacco leaves. The remnants of this industry still remain today but the drying sheds (for tobacco leaves) are now used to store hay for the valley's dairy and beef cattle industries.A dark metal tobacco tin covered in a bright metallic gold fleck pattern with a black frame on the lid around a drawing of a woodsman with a musket and axe sitting on a stump overlooking a valley that reads "Pioneer Brand", next to a company seal incorporating a wreath, eagle and shield. The front side reads "Richmond Cavendish Co./ Limited/ Liverpool." and the right and left side "Golden Flake Cavendish". The bottom has the same woodsman feature as the lid. The back side is an elongated diagram featuring tobacco leaves and plant summit. Inside lid surface has a half torn coloured (red, black and green) sketch on paper of the woodsman scene depicted on the top lid.The following inscriptions are displayed on the top and inside lid and on the bottom tobacco tin: "PIONEER BRAND" and to the left of the scene the "SEAL OF THE COMPANY TRADE MARK" Both side of the ens have the following words in large thick print "GOLDEN FLAKE CAVENDISH" and each is contained withih a black boarder.pipe tobacco, cigarette tins, smoking accessories, personal effects, tobacco containers

Poster of banner, "150 Years of Gold" used in the launch of Gold Tram (No. 45) on 14/6/2001 at the depot. Painted using water based poster paint, onto a roll of white paper, with a yellow or gold background, the words have been pained in a deep blue. Has been torn at the right end at the time of the launch. Has been stored rolled. btm1777i1 - shows banner 75% rolled out. btm1777i2 - shows banner - right hand edge showing damage btm1777i3 - shows banner in use at the depot on 14/6/2001 - See Fares Please! July 2001 for further details. See Fares Please! July 2001trams, tramways, gold tram, launch, banner

Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat tramways and how they were presented at the commencement of the SEC fare system. Generally issued c1966 following decimal currency, not formally used.Two number - 3 No. - Paper SEC ticket - 4c City Section in value, (Four cents) - orange ink on off white paper, numbered A280738, 740 and 741. The ticket price is in orange ink while the ticket number itself is in black ink. On rear in orange ink is a diagonal criss cross or tartan pattern. Tickets have not been used, torn complete from block. Have not been numbered on rear. All tickets and Reg Item 4006, 4007, 4009 to 4018 were received originally in a folded cloth wrapper - wax canvas? - see Reg item 4009. See Alan Bradley notes on SEC tickets. trams, tramways, secv, ticket, transfer tickets

Yields information about the style and printing of tickets used in Ballarat tramways and how they were presented at the commencement of the SEC fare system. Generally issued c1966 following decimal currency, not formally used.Two number - 2 No. - Paper SEC ticket - 6c City Section in value, (Six cents) - purple ink on off white paper, numbered A087609 and A087612. The ticket price is in purple ink while the ticket number itself is in black ink. On rear in purple ink is a diagonal criss cross or tartan pattern. Tickets have not been used, torn complete from block. Have not been numbered on rear. All tickets and Reg Item 4006, 4007, 4009 to 4018 were received originally in a folded cloth wrapper - wax canvas? - see Reg item 4009. See Alan Bradley notes on SEC tickets. trams, tramways, secv, ticket, transfer tickets

A large green cloth paper wavy patterned covered Norman Bros., Leger Book with burgundy tape on the spine. This blank book was used by the Silvan Progress Association in 1914 as written on the front cover in copperplate writing. Inside the book starts at page 64 so the pages 1 - 63 may well have been used in 1914 and they have been torn out. There is an entry on Page 173, the last page, for Expenses for 1915 & 1916 for the Silvan Progress Assoc.The Leger was used as a Statement of Accounts Processed Strawberries Apl - June 1939 and for other statements too. The last entry was completed on Nov 24 1939. Pp.173non-fictionThis blank book was used by the Silvan Progress Association. Inside the book starts at page 64 so the pages 1 - 63 may well have been used in 1914 and they have been torn out. There is an entry on Page 173, the last page, for Expenses for 1915 & 1916 for the Silvan Progress Assoc.The Leger was used as a Statement of Accounts Processed Strawberries Apl - June 1939 and for other statements too. The last entry was completed on Nov 24 1939. Pp.173account books, accounts, business accounts, business records, documents, account records, financial records

Memorandum - 3 quarto ruled sheets + part of a former poster with a cover note, dated 20/10/1921.   Written in ink to Mr. J. W. Duncan General Superintendent by William Pollock Acting Supt. about the issues at the Toorak Road Engine House regarding poor coke, recording the times of the fireman and trimmer, and problems in keeping up the power required due to the high percentage of breeze.  Looks at the use of staff to fire and maintain supplies. Handwritten cover note was written on a torn poster from the Brunswick line noting a complaint from Thomson Fireman at the engine house about the lack of assistance.   Was pinned to the three-page note and written in pencil."date stamped 20/10/21trams, tramways, boilers, power house, winding houses, personnel

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Cohuna Irrigation Trust, Secretary's Office, Wee-Wee-Rup. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Motteram & Hyett, Solicitors, McCrae Street, Sandhurst to Denovan W D C Esq. (William Dixon Campbell Denovan), Town Clerk re Manley Edith. 3 - 1886 - Letter form Bennett & Co, Melbourne re Purves, deceased. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Merrifield G, Solicitor, Castlemaine re Queen? V Telampo. 5 - 1886 - Post card from De Garis E C, Castlemaine. 6 - 1886 - Post card torn in half.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, cohuna irrigation trust, motteram & hyett, denovan w d c, manley edith, bennett & co, purves, merrifield g, queen?, telampo, de garis e c

Poster of banner, "Ballarat Vintage Tramway 1971 - 1981" used in the opening of the new or depot extension 14/6/2001 at the depot at the opening on 19/9/1981. Painted using water based poster paint, onto a roll of white paper, with a green background, the words have been pained in yellow blue. Has been torn or broken centrally at the time of the launch. Has been stored rolled - partially oval. btm1777i1 - shows banner - photographed in four stages and then joined using photoshop. btm1777i2 - shows banner - in use at the depot on 19/9/1981 - See 1981- 1982 BTPS Annual Report for further details. See Annual Report 1981 - 1982trams, tramways, depot extensions, btps, launch, banner

BHS CollectionSparkman's Bag Shop Christmas Gift Brochure: Cream paper with red and green print with a Santa Clause left hand corner. Printed on the brochure is * Compare the Quality and Prices before Buying elsewhere. Christmas Gifts of Long Remembrance. Sparkans's Bag Shop (Late Harper's Oldest Established Bag Shop in Bendigo) Charing Cross (Between Mitchell St and Lyric Theatre, Opposite Cabmen's Shelter), Bendigo. High = Class Leather Goods. Ladies Wallets and Shopping Bags etc., Table Centres, Mats & Travelling Cushions. Ladies & Gent's Toilet Requisites, Fancy Goods & Christmas Novelties. We Guarantee Satisfaction. Paper torn in two places. Box 625.Printed by F.H. Sparkman, Arcade, Bendigobusiness, retail, advertising

This book “The Job” is a novel written by Sinclair Lewis. It was first published in America in 1916 and in England in 1926. It is Lewis’ third book. There are 320 numbered pages, divided into three parts, each part is divided into chapters, which are in turn divided into sections. This particular book is one of a Collected Edition published in 1929. A note from the publisher included within the book states “It has been corrected in some small details but no revision or rewriting has been attempted by the author who wishes it to be made clear that it is an early and not a new work.” About SINCLAIR LEWIS (1885-1951) The author was born as Harry Sinclair Lewis in 1885 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He was renowned as an American novelist, playwright and short story writer. His first writings were romantic poems and short stories. Six of his novels were published by the time Lewis was 36. Lewis received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930 for his “vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters." He was the first author from the United States to receive this award. Lewis graduated from university in 1907. He worked as a reporter and editor for several publications. He was a prolific writer, publishing dozens of works and numerous articles, and became popular for his satire. Lewis married and divorced twice and died alone from a heart attack due to advanced alcoholism) near Rome on 10th January 1951, aged 66. 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. There is a remnant of the library’s label inside the back page of the book. 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. Lewis’s book is significant for its association with the writer, who was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature (1930). This book is significant for its connection with the Pattison Collection which, 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. Title: The Job Author: Sinclair Lewis Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London Date: 1929 Hardback board book covered with red linen, spine reinforced with blue. The author’s name is embossed in gold on the front cover. There is a logo impressed into the centre of the back cover with the printer’s initials “J C”. On the spine is a white adhesive label with a typed library call number. Inside the front cover is a printed label. Inside front and back covers are a black stamp and handwritten characters in pen and pencil. Inside the back cover and facing page are various date stamps dating from 1942 to 1963. The book, a novel, is one of a Collected Edition published in 1929. It also belongs to the Pattison Collection originally belonging to the Warrnambool Public Library.Logo “J” over “C” Adhesive label - “PAT / FIC / LEW” Printed label “Corangamite Regional Library Service / Warrnambool City Library / Pattison Collection” Stamp on inside front page and inside back page “CORANGAMITE REGIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE / WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY” Handwritten on the inside page facing cover “1083” and “M 73” Handwritten on inside page facing back cover “1083” Date stamps facing back cover “1958” – “1963”, and on inside back cover “1942” – “195-“ Remnants of a torn out paper “ - - - - - - PU - - - C LIBRAR- / ……” flagstaff 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 public library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool books and records, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool children’s library, the job by sinclair lewis, collection edition sinclair lewis, american novel 1929, jonathan cape, sinclair lewis, harry sinclair lewis, 1930 nobel prize for literature