A Gunter’s Chain, an old land surveying instrument, is named after its inventor, Edmund Gunter (1581-1626), an English mathematician and astronomer. It was first produced in 1620. The tool has 100 links and is 66 feet or one chain long. The links are marked off in groups of ten by metal tags or rings. A quarter chain (25 links) is called a rod or pole and ten chains make a furlong and 80 chains a mile. The traditional cricket pitch is 22 yards or one chain long. This chain is said to have been used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was constructed in the 19th century. Gilbert Nicol was an early settler in Warrnambool who, with John Craig, established the first hotel (and the first building) in Warrnambool in 1847. Nicol later owned the property ‘Rosehill’ in the Warrnambool area. As the chain was given to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society by the Town Clerk, Keith Arnel, it is likely that the chain was one of the items in the old Warrnambool MuseumThis Gunter’s Chain is of importance because it is an early land measuring device that was used for over 250 years and has great historical and mathematical significance. If it is correct that it was used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was built then it has considerable local significance and dates back to the 19th century. This is a metal tool which consists of 100 metal pieces or links joined together by loops at each end with two metal loops in between each link. The links joined together form a chain. The two ends of the chain have small metal handles attached. At intervals along the chain there are additional rings or metal pieces attached. The metal is very rusted.gunter’s chain, land measurement tools, history of warrnambool

This book, written by Larry O’Toole, tells the story of the epic journey undertaken when Charlie Heard, a motor service provider, was engaged in 1930 to carry three ladies in his Hudson taxi from Lorne in Victoria, up through the Red Centre to Darwin and back via Brisbane and Sydney. The trip took almost three months and covered over 7000 miles. The book also records the re-enactment of this trip undertaken by Charlie’s grandchildren in 2008 when they travelled in a 1928 Essex. This book is kept in our collection because Warrnambool was one of the places mentioned in the book as being a city passed through by the participants of this epic car trip. This is a hard cover book with a black cover with silver-coloured printing on the front and spine. The dust cover has a white background with several black and white and colour photographs and white and brown printing. The book contains an introduction, 13 chapters of text and the publisher’s acknowledgements. The text includes many black and white and colour photographs, diagrams and maps. charles heard, car travel in 1930, history of warrnambool

Bells of this type were normally used to hang around the necks of cows, horses or bullocks to prevent them from being lost and were used from around the 1860's onwards. The initial J B identify the bell as being made by James Barwell who made bells for the Australian market from around the 1860's. His bell and brass foundry manufactured all sorts of bells from school bells to full church peals as well as plumbing fittings. The four marks on the edge of the bell are typical of those used by drovers or owners to identify their animal. While this bell has no known local provenance, it is a link to the early cattle and agricultural life in Australia and most likely the Western District. Its significance lies in the fact that it is typical of bells used for a purpose at that time and as such can be used for discussion in a social and interpretive context.This is a brass bell of the type used to hang around the necks of animals such as cows, horses and bullocks. The mechanism for the attachment to a collar or harness has been sheared off and the clapper is detached from the inside hook. The bell has an inscription incised around the top and there are four small cuts or incisions made into the bell at the wider end. The bell is a little tarnished.‘Success to 4 in horse teams J.B.’history of warrnambool, animal husbandry, animal bell, james barwell bells

This saw is used for cutting curved edges of timber. It could have been used in the home or for commercial building purposes. The hand-held saw has largely now been replaced by electrically-operated machines. This item has no known local provenance but it is an interesting example of a hand-held tool of the past.This is a hand saw with a thin serrated metal blade. The blade is affixed to the bottom end of a wooden frame with two upright pieces and a cross piece affixed to the upper part of the frame. The top part of the frame has a piece of plaited rope stretched across. The top part of the frame has two wooden handles. The blade is somewhat rusted and the wooden parts and the rope are stained. vintage tools, history of warrnambool

These documents concern the property in South Warrnambool, Jetty Allotment 7, Section 4. They include a search made of the title of this property in 1937 and information on later purchasers of the property. The first owner of this property was James Cust who purchased it in April 1853. James Cust (1815-1860) came from Ireland to Australia in 1841. From 1847 on he farmed first at Woodford and then moved into Warrnambool and began land speculating.. In 1856 his property was valued at £20,000 but by 1858 he was declared insolvent following the insolvency of his financial backer, William Bateman and his properties were sold. He died in 1860 following an accident at a Ballarat gold mine. Other notable Warrnambool identities who owned this property on Pertobe Road included Thomas King, Christopher Beattie, Thomas Goodall, William McMahon and Alan Lane.These documents are of interest as they detail the history of a property in Warrnambool up to the 1960s. They are also an example of the type of property once owned by James Cust, an important early land speculator in Warrnambool. These are nine loose sheets of paper concerning a legal search made of a block of land in Warrnambool and later documents on the same property The papers contain handwriting in blue and black ink and pencil and one red stamp. One of the pages is an invoice for the charge made for the search.‘Searched 25/5/37 W.D. Richardson Titles Searcher 418 Little Collins Street Melbourne C1’james cust,, history of warrnambool

This is a programme of a greyhound racing meeting held in Warrnambool in August 1975. The meeting was held in Botanic Park, in Botanic Road Warrnambool opposite the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens. Today greyhound racing meetings in Warrnambool are held in Koroit Street on a track in the Warrnambool Showgrounds and the Botanic Road site is now the location of a Catholic Primary School. This programme is retained as a memento of the 1970s when the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club meetings were held in a park in Botanic Road, Warrnambool. This is a soft cover booklet of 16 pages. The cover is yellow with black printing and an image in red of a greyhound and a map of Victoria. The programme has been stapled but the staples have been removed. The pages and front cover of the programme have been marked with black biro and red crayon.‘Warrnambool Botanic Park Greyhound Racing Thursday 21st August 1975’warrnambool greyhound racing, history of warrnambool

This glass milk bottle held one pint of milk and was filled in an assembly line at a milk factory. It would have had a paper top. Milk in the mid 20th century was delivered daily to households in glass bottles and left at the front door or door step. The commercial production of milk and other milk products in Victoria dates back to the 19th century with the Western District still having an important dairying industry. Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, situated at Allansford, commenced operations in 1888 and still operates today. There are other milk-related factories in the Warrnambool area at Dennington and Koroit. This bottle is of interest as an example of the type of milk bottles used in the 20th century before the advent of plastic and cardboard cartons.This is a clear glass bottle with four rounded sides, a short neck and a round opening at the top. One Pintdairying in the warrnambool area, history of warrnambool

This soda syphon is a device for dispensing carbonated or soda water. The valve allows portion of the contents to be dispensed whilst maintaining the pressure inside to keep the rest of the contents from going flat. The bottle is marked ‘J. Fletcher’. John Fletcher worked as a boy at Rowley’s cordial factory in Banyan Street, Warrnambool. He then worked for John Davis who had established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street, Warrnambool in the 1860s. In 1885 John Fletcher bought the Davis business and operated it until 1930. John Fletcher sold the business to Ralph Reeves and as Reeves initially used Fletcher bottles and syphons, the contents of the bottle could have come from the time of either John Fletcher or Ralph Reeves. This syphon is of interest as it comes from a mid 20th century cordial factory in Warrnambool. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years. This is a clear glass soda syphon with a round sold base and a rounded body and a metal pump and valve mechanism affixed to the top opening. A glass tube is inside the bottle and is part of the pump mechanism. The top metal section is very corroded. The side of the bottle has the Fletcher trademark - the stylized letters J and F. ‘J. Fletcher Trade Mark Warrnambool’ ‘J. Fletcher’ ‘British Syphon Mfg Co. Ltd London’ cordial manufacturing in warrnambool, fletcher, history of warrnambool

These are souvenir medals of the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. This exhibition organised by a local committee under the chairmanship of the Mayor, Walter Hickford was one of the most important events in Warrnambool's history. It ran for three months and was said to have attracted 70000 visitors. It was held in Liebig Street and utilised both the civic centre buildings and temporary buildings erected for the event. It had several exhibition courts featuring art worksand business exhibition stands, competitions,entertainments and visiting experts in various fields. These medals were made at the exhibition at the stand of Stokes and Son. Visitors to the exhibition were able to get a gold silver or bronze medal made while they watched and the medal was then perforated ready to put on a watch chain or pendant. Thomas Stokes came to Australia in the 1850's and established a successful business in Melbourne manufacturing buttons, medals and tokens. The business was called Stokes and Son following a fire in 1893.These medals are of great significance as a memento of an important event in Warrnambool -The Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. Medals such as these would have been in the homes of many residents of Warrnambool and district and beyond after 1896..1 This silver circular medal has text around the outer rim and an image of Queen Victoria on the reverse. On the obverse is text and an image of the Warrnambool Exhibition building erected for the occasion. The medal is secured by a red thread , button and clear tape to a piece of card. On the card is a hand drawn sketch the Warrnambool Exhibition building and a hand drawn sketch of a profile of Queen Victoria . .2This silver circular medal has text around the rim and an image Warrnambool Exhibition building on the reverse and on the obverse a stylised coat of arms topped by the rising sun . Inside the field is a sailing ship, a pick and shovel , a sheep and sheaf of wheat .1 on the Reverse : around the rim, Struck at the Exhibition mint. On the obverse : Industrial exhibition 1896 Warrnambool. .2 On the obverse : Industrial exhibition 1896 Warrnambool.warrnambool, great exhibition of warrnambool, 1896 exhibition warrnambool, warrnambool exhibition medal

These two soda syphons were used to dispense soda water. They are marked ‘J. Fletcher’ with one of the bottles having the extra label of ‘Reeves’. The bottles come from the cordial factory in Koroit Street, Warrnambool. John Fletcher worked as a young boy in Rowley’s cordial factory in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for John Davis who had established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street in the 1860s. John Fletcher bought the Davis business in 1885 and operated this factory until 1930. He then sold to Ralph Reeves who initially used the Fletcher bottles and syphons. At least one of these syphons comes from the Koroit Street factory during the proprietorship of Ralph Reeves.These soda syphons are of interest as they come from a local Warrnambool cordial factory in Koroit Street. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over100 years. These are two soda syphons made of glass with heavy round bases and ridged surfaces on the bottle bodies. The metal tops contain the pump and valve mechanisms and the inside of the bottles have glass tubes attached to the top mechanisms. The sides of the bottle have the Fletcher trade mark symbol of the stylized letters J and F, Both metal tops are corroded. Both bottles contain a small amount of liquid.‘J. Fletcher’ “J. Fletcher Trade Mark Warrnambool’ ‘Soda Water’ ‘This syphon is the property of John Fletcher Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ ‘British Syphon Co. Ltd. London Reg. No 762’. ‘Reeves Soda Water’ (one bottle only) cordial manufacturing in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

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 cup was sold as a souvenir of the coronation of King George VI of England in 1937. It was probably bought locally in the Warrnambool district as attachment to the British Empire was strong in the 1930s. The coronation of King Georg VI and Queen Elizabeth took place on 12 May 1937 at Westminster Abbey, London. This followed the abdication of Edward VIII. This cup is retained as an example of the high quality souvenirs of the 1937 coronation of King George VI sold to those in British Empire countries. It will be useful for display. This is a white china cup with a gilt edge around the top rim and on the handle. On one side of the cup are images of a crown, British flags and photographs of King George and Queen Elizabeth in oval frames. There is also some lettering. ‘H.M. King George VI Queen Elizabeth Coronation 1937’ ‘Made in England’ coronation of king george vi of england, 1937, history of warrnambool

This is a car picnic set made by the English firm of G. W. Scott and Sons who were producers of wickerwork crafts, basketry and luxury leather goods. The business was founded in 1661 and ceased operations in 1967. The picnic set belonged to Dr Horace Iles Holmes (1877-1959) who was born and educated in Tasmania and completed a medical degree at Melbourne University. He commenced a practice in Warrnambool in 1906 and was the Honorary Medical Officer at the Warrnambool Hospital and Warrnambool’s Health Officer. His practice was at ‘Ierne’ at the corner of Spence and Kepler Streets. He was an early member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and was prominent in Warrnambool community affairs (Foundation President of Warrnmbool Rotary Club, a member of the local Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, Warrnambool Hospital Committee member, long-term Trustee of the Warrnambool Methodist Church and President of the Lyndoch Hostel for the Aged Committee). Dr Holmes also had agricultural interests and enjoyed fishing, golf and bowls. He also had a motor car and this picnic set would have been used for family picnics. This picnic set is of considerable significance because: 1. It is a good example of the luxury picnic sets owned by more affluent people in the 1930s and 40s. 2. It has important local provenance as it belonged to Horace Holmes, a doctor associated with the professional and community life of Warrnambool for over 50 years. This is a rectangular wooden box with a leather covering. It has metal hinges on the corners of the box and two two metal catches on the side with a leather belt and metal buckle on one of these catches with one leather belt missing on the other side. These leather straps were to attach the picnic box to the running board of the car. There are also two metal catches or locks on the front of the box. Inside the box there is a white lining with a plaited wickerwork insert containing spaces for the following: 1. large china container with a silver top 2. smaller metal container with a silver lid 3. small rectangular metal tin with a silver lid. This container still has some loose tea leaves inside 4. four china cups 5. two circular china dishes for jam and butter 6. four china saucers 7. one glass bottle with a silver top 8. one metal phial, silver-coloured 9. one amber-coloured glass bottle (probably not an original) 10. four nickel silver spoons 11. three metal forks 12. three white enamel plates, blue edged Numbers 10,11 and 12 are held in place by leather straps on the inside of the lid of the box 13. two loose metal straps 14. one metal kettle with a handle with cane strapping, a brass lid, a brass spout with an end chain and a metal inscription 15. The kettle is sitting in a metal tray which has a lighting mechanism to heat the water The picnic set has some rusted metal catches on the exterior of the box and the leather is very stained and torn in places. ‘Remove screw before lighting G.W.S. & S ‘ ‘Coracle brand’ antique luxury picnic set, dr horace holmes, history of warrnambool

Warrnambool has been an attraction for tourists for over 100 years. It has been popular as a coastal resort and today the winter whale season brings more tourists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Warrnambool was promoted as a spa and health resort, partly because of its hot and cold sea water baths and partly because of its bracing climate and attractive coastline. Thunder Point, depicted on this item, has been a popular visiting spot for tourists for many years. Buying a high quality ornament such as this one was a popular activity of tourists in the mid 20th century. Tourists today buy souvenir items but the choice and range vary from what was available 80 years ago. This item is retained as an example of a local souvenir bought by tourists in the mid 20th century. This is a small white china mug with a gilt edging or strip around the top opening rim, the base and the handle. There is a colour image of a seascape in blue, yellow and black on the side of the mug and the maker’s name on the base.‘Victoria Fine China’tourism in warrnambool, souvenir china items 20th century, history of warrnambool

This waistcoat was made for Mr Alan Vinnell by the Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop in 1946 and was worn by Mr Vinnell at his wedding in Lang Lang on 27/4/1946 to Miss Madge Ridgway. Alan was the son of Albert Vinnell and Ada Rose Wood. He attended school in Macarthur about 40 kilometres northwest of Warrnambool. The Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop was located at the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets in Warrnambool. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in World War One and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in Western Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street and in 1928 he moved to the Koroit/Liebig Streets intersection with his Man’s Shop. He manufactured men’s clothing on site. In 1931 a new set of two-storeyed buildings was erected on the site and Fletcher Jones moved into the building. In 1946 a Fletcher Jones shop was opened in Melbourne and in 1948 a factory was established in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool with a new company, Fletcher Jones and Staff established in 1951. This company became known Australia-wide, firstly for the production of men’s trousers, and later men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the Warrnambool factory was sold and the company dissolved. This waistcoat is of historical interest as an example of the high quality work produced at the Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop in Warrnambool in the mid 1940s. The Fletcher Jones business became one of the most important ones in Warrnambool in the 20th century and the early 21st century.This is a sleeveless woollen waistcoat made of blue striped material with a black cotton backing. The back has two black cotton flaps with a metal buckle to allow for the tightening of the coat across the back. The inside is lined with a cream, yellow and grey striped cotton material. The waistcoat has one inside pocket with a button enclosure and four outside pockets. The waistcoat has six black buttons on the outside and a maker’s label stitched on the inside. ‘Fletcher Jones The Man’s Shop Warrnambool Mr A. Vinnell Date 15/2/46’fletcher jones man’s shop warrnambool, history of warrnambool, albert vinnell, vinnell

This piece of cloth came from the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in the First World War and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in the Western District of Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street, Warrnambool and in 1928 he moved to the Koroit/Liebig Streets intersection with his Man’s Shop. He manufactured men’s clothing on site. In 1931 he moved the business into a new two-storeyed building on the site. He opened a Fletcher Jones shop in Melbourne in 1946 and in 1948 a factory was established in Warrnambool. In 1951 the business of Fletcher Jones and Staff was established. The company expanded and became known Australia- wide, firstly for the production of men’s trousers and later both men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the Warrnambool factory was sold and the company was dissolved. This piece of material is of interest as an example of the cloth used in the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. The Fletcher Jones clothing company, known Australia-wide, was one of the important industries based in Warrnambool in the 20th and early 21st centuryThis is a bolt of check corded material in grey and blue tonings. It is stained in various places.fletcher jones clothing stores, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This book belonged to Robert Giles. He obtained it in 1914 and the bookseller was Mrs Tilly Rowan who was a well-known businesswoman in Warrnambool with a book shop and newsagency in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. Robert Giles (1895-1967) was born in Wangoom and went to the Wangoom State School and the Warrnambool Agricultural High School. He served in World War One and worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool from 1911 to 1921 (excluding war service). He later worked in banks in Koroit, other Victorian country districts and Melbourne and retired to Mailors Flat. He was married to Vera King and they had one child, Joyce Aurelin. A Warrnambool branch of the Savings Bank was opened in Warrnambool in 1859 and it moved into a new building in Timor Street in 1885. (This building in now part of the Archie Graham Senior Citizens’ Centre). The State Savings Bank became the State Bank of Victoria in 1980 and in 1990 was subsumed into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This book is retained because it belonged to Robert Giles who lived in the Warrnambool area for part of his life and who worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 408 pages. The cover is red with a gold-coloured image of a horse and a mounted policeman on the front cover and gold printing on the spine. The book has 25 chapters of text. Two labels of the book’s seller are affixed to the front cover and a title page. The cover is much scuffed.‘July 9th 1914 Robert P. Giles State Savings Bank Warrnambool’giles family, warrnambool, state savings bank warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This book, written by Inspector Robert Haldane, details the history of the Police Force in Victoria up to the late 20th century. The history of the Police Force is mirrored in the history of the police presence in Warrnambool since the early days of settlement. One important ex-Warrnambool policemen featured in the book is Thomas O’Callaghan, an Inspector of Police in Warrnambool in the 1880s and the Chief Commissioner of Police from 1902 to 1913.This item is of interest firstly as a book giving comprehensive details on the history of the Victorian Police Force and secondly as book containing information on police members who were connected with the history of Warrnambool. .1 This is a hard cover book of 372 pages with a blue cover and silver printing on the spine. The dust cover has a white and blue background with a photograph of a 19th century policeman, six colour photographs and one black and white photograph. The printing on the dust cover is in white, blue and black. The book contains six chapters and many sketches, illustrations, photographs and graphs. .2 This is a 1986 newspaper cutting from the Warrnambool Standard featuring an article on the book, The People’s Force. Printed Inscription: ‘To those Police who created history without knowing it.’victorian police force, warrnambool

This pair of jeans comes from the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in World War One and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in the Western District of Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street Warrnambool and in 1928 he moved the business to the corner of Koroit and Liebig Streets with his Man’s Shop. He manufactured men’s clothing on site. In 1931 a new set of buildings was erected on the site and Fletcher Jones moved into the new building. In 1946 a Fletcher Jones shop was opened in Melbourne and in 1948 a factory was opened in Warrnambool with a new company Fletcher Jones and Staff established in 1951. This company became known Australia-wide, firstly for the production of men’s trousers and later for both men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the factory was sold and the company dissolved. These jeans are retained as an example of the clothing made at the Warrnambool Fletcher Jones factory. The Fletcher Jones clothing company was one of the most important businesses in Warrnambool in the 20th century. This is a pair of blue cotton jeans pants with yellow stitching and a metal zip The garment has four pockets. The back pocket has the maker’s label and there are two labels attached to the inside. The front inside top section is lined with white material. ‘Fletcher Jones Australia’fletcher jones clothing company, history of warrnambool

These booklets come from the estate of Brue Morris, editor of the Warrnambool Standard from 1946 to 1968. He was an important historian in Warrnambool, writing many historical articles for the Standard newspaper during his editorship and after his retirement. He kept files and other material on many topics related to Warrnambool’s history and Heatherlie was one of these. Heatherlie is a site in Koroit Street Warrnambool occupied by flats for the elderly. The name comes from the name of the original property owned by the Warrnambool furniture maker and seller, E.B. Phillips. Heatherlie Homes is a project established in 1979 under the auspices of the Methodist Church in Warrnambool and today the project is operated by a Uniting Church committee. These two booklets are of historical interest detailing the establishment of Heatherlie Homes in Warrnambool and the history of the property and its buildings in 1981. The booklets are useful to researchers..1 This is a booklet of 8 pages with black print on a buff-coloured background. The cover has a sketch of the proposed Heatherlie project. The booklet has plans, sepia-coloured photographs and information for donors. There are two loose flyers re the appeal. .2 This is a booklet of 22 pages. It has an orange cover with reproductions of the building opening plaque and a Uniting Church statement. The booklet contains historical facts about Heatherlie and the Uniting Church and reports on Heatherlie’s progress. It also has several black and white photographs. heatherlie homes, warrnambool, bruce morris, warrnambool standard editor, warrnambool uniting church

The Hollywood film stars pasted on to one side of this paper are of no historical interest to our Society. The four paper items attached to the other side relate to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson. He flew the first aeroplane to come to Warrnambool in January 1917. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. He had built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. rotary Gnome engine. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Watson also brought several letters with him, making him the bearer of the first aerial mail to Warrnambool. Sadly Basil Watson died when his plane crashed at Point Cook in March 1917, just two months after his record-breaking flight to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection the small galvanized bucket seat which came from Watson’s plane and the original first air letter written by the Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. These four items are of considerable historical interest as they are souvenirs issued at the time of Basil Watson’s aviation exploits in the early 1900s and Watson is of great importance in the aviation history of Warrnambool.This is a piece of paper (possibly from a scrapbook) with one torn edge. Pasted on to the paper on one side are newspaper photographs of early Hollywood female film stars. On the other side are four items relating to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson – an airmail post card, a newspaper black and white photograph, a souvenir black and white photograph and a card with an illustration of an early aeroplane (pictured upside down). ‘The Aerial Postman Basil Watson’ ‘Official Souvenir Australian Aerial Mail’ basil watson, pioneer aviator, aviation in warrnambool’s history, history of warrnambool

This trophy is one of several from the 1930s that were awarded as part of the competitions held in Warrnambool by the Inter-Church Indoor Sports Association. One of the sponsors of this competition was Fletcher Jones, the well-known clothing manufacturer who had his head office and main factory in Warrnambool. This trophy was the Bates Cup and it was probably donated by Harold Bates, a property developer who was a Warrnambool City Councillor from 1941 to 1945. This trophy was for the deck quoits competition. The game of quoits consists of competitors throwing four or five rings or hoops on to a raised spike some metres away. The hoops are generally made of plaited rope and the game is said to have been started or popularized by sailors on board ship. In deck quoits the raised spike is usually replaced by concentric circles drawn on the playing surface. This game became very popular on ocean liner cruise ships from the 1920s on. The winner of this trophy is not known.This cup is retained as a fine example of the trophies awarded for indoor sport in the 1930s in Warrnambool by the now-defunct inter church sporting associationThis is an electro plated nickel silver cup with two side handles and a thin stem on a silver base. The cup is mounted on a brown circular Bakelite stand. ‘I.C.I.S.A. Bates Cup Deck Quoits Championship’inter church sporting competitions warrnambool, warrnambool history

This trophy is one of several from the 1930s that were awarded as part of the Inter-Church Indoor Sports Association competitions in Warrnambool. One of the sponsors of this competition was Fletcher Jones, the well-known clothing manufacturer who had his head office and major factory in Warrnambool. This trophy was awarded to the aggregate winners of the competition and was won by the Congregational Men’s Institute (C.M.I.) A Congregational Church was opened in Warrnambool in Liebig Street in 1864 and transferred to Henna Street in 1940. This church in Henna Street was sold to the Salvation Army in 1979 when the Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Church to become the Uniting Church. This trophy is of interest as a memento of the now-defunct inter-church sports competitions held in Warrnambool in the 1930s. This is an electro-plate nickel silver cup with a thin stem and a silver base resting on a Bakelite stand. The cup has two side handles. ‘I.C.I.S.A. Aggregate Winners Won by C.M.I. 1936-7’congregational church, warrnambool, inter-church sports, warrnambool, warrnambool history

This trophy is one of several from the 1930s awarded as part of the Warrnambool inter-church indoor sports competitions. One of the sponsors of this competition was Fletcher Jones, the well-known clothing manufacturer. He had his head office and main factory in Warrnambool. This trophy was awarded for rope quoits. The game of quoits consists of competitors throwing four or five rings or hoops on to a raised spike some metres away. The hoops are generally made of plaited rope and the game is said to have been started or popularized by sailors on board ship. The trophy was won by the Congregational Men’s Institute (C.M.I.). A Congregational Church was opened in Liebig Street in Warrnambool in 1864 and was transferred to Henna Street in 1940. This church was sold to the Salvation Army in 1979 when the Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Church to form the Uniting Church. This cup is of interest as it is a 1930s trophy awarded by the now-defunct Inter Church Indoor Sports Association of Warrnambool. This is an electro plated nickel silver cup with two ornate side handles and a stem in a bulbous shape attached to a silver base. The cup is mounted on a Bakelite stand.‘Inter Church Indoor Sports Association Cup Won by C.M.I. Rope Quoit Champions 1934’congregational church warrnambool, inter church indoor sports association warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This trophy is one of several from the 1930s that were awarded as part of the inter-church indoor sports competitions held in Warrnambool. One of the sponsors of these competitions was Fletcher Jones, the well-known clothing manufacturer. The head office and major factory of the Fletcher Jones business were in Warrnambool. This trophy was awarded to the Congregational Men’s Institute for deck quoits. The game of quoits consists of competitors throwing four or five rings or hoops on to a raised spike some metres away. The hoops are generally made of plaited rope and the game is said to have been started or popularized by sailors on board ship. In deck quoits the raised spike is usually replaced by concentric circles drawn on the playing surface. This game became very popular on ocean liner cruises from the 1930s on. The Congregational Men’s Institute was a leading men’s activity group in Warrnambool in the 1930s. A Congregational Church was opened in Liebig Street in Warrnambool in 1864 and transferred to Henna Street in 1940. This Henna Street church was sold to the Salvation Army in 1979 when the Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Church to form the Uniting Church. This trophy is of interest as a memento of the now-defunct inter-church sporting competitions held in Warrnambool in the 1930s.This is an electro-plated nickel silver cup with two side handles, a thin stem and a silver base. The cup is mounted on a Bakelite stand. ‘I.C.I.S.A. Deck Quoits Championship Won by C.M.I. 1935’congregational church, warrnambool, inter-church sporting competitions, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This is a trophy given to a Warrnambool Football Association by Harry Pritchard. He was a Warrnambool businessman who had the Warrnambool Sports Depot store in Kepler Street in the 1920s. The trophy was for the winner of the Warrnambool Wards Football Association. This was a Junior Association promoted by the Warrnambool Football Club and it existed from 1924 to 1930. It was proposed that the four Council Wards, Hopkins, Victoria, Albert and Merri each had a football team but it is not clear if all had teams and how many teams from other areas took part in the competition. The Pritchard Cup records that the Hopkins Ward Football Team won the trophy in 1926 and that Allansford, a team outside of the four wards, won in 1927. The records of the Allansford Football Club go back to the 1890s. This cup is of considerable interest, firstly as an attractive trophy in its own right and secondly as a memento of a football association connected with the Warrnambool Council Wards. Both the Council Wards structure and the Wards football association no longer exist. This is a silver cup with two ornamental handles, a slender stem and a silver base. The cup has a lid with a knob in the middle. The cup, lid and base are all heavily etched and patterned with scrolls, leaves and flowers. There is an inscription on one side of the cup. The cup sits on a circular brown wooden base which has a cloth or paste mixture affixed to the bottom. The wooden section has two silver plaques with inscriptions. There is a small piece of wood missing on the side of the top of the mount. ‘The Pritchard Cup presented to Warrnambool Ward’s (sic) Football Association by H. Pritchard.’ ‘Won by Hopkins Ward Football Club Season 1926’ ‘Won by Allansford Football Club Season 1927’ football in warrnambool district, harry pritchard, warrnambool 1920s, history of warrnambool

This is a trophy awarded at a camp of the 4/19 Light Horse Regiment. This regiment appeared to have been based in the Corangamite region of the Western District and included regiment members from Warrnambool. It is not known exactly what type of competition was an ‘Officers Flutter’. Light Horse regiments were cavalry regiments that were established at the time of the Crimean War in the 1860s. During the First World War the 4th Light Horse served with distinction in France, Gallipoli and Palestine. In 1948 the 17th Prince of Wales Light Horse, the 19th Yarrowee Light Horse and the 4th (ex 20th ) Corangamite Light Horse amalgamated to form a revived 4/19 Light Horse. This regiment kept alive the tradition of the original Light Horse units, becoming part of the Australian Army Reserve and members served in Vietnam and East Timor. This cup is of interest as an example of the trophies awarded for competition at a Light Horse regiment camp in the 1930s. This is a metal cup (silver amalgam)) with two side handles and a narrow stem attached to a silver base. The cup is attached to a brown Bakelite stand. The inside of the cup has some white paint streaks and the cup itself is much stained and pock-marked. ‘Westminster’ 4/19 L.H. Camp 1938 Officers Flutter light horse regiments. warrnambool district, history of warrnambool

These shorts come from the Fletcher Jones clothing factory in Warrnambool. They have never been worn. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in World War One and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in the Western District of Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street Warrnambool and in 1928 he moved his business to the corner of Koroit and Liebig Streets. He manufactured men’s clothing on site with the business known as the Men’s Shop. In 1931 he moved into a newly-erected two-storeyed building on the site. In 1946 he opened a store in Melbourne and in 1948 he established a clothing factory in Warrnambool with a new company set up in 1951 – Fletcher Jones and Staff. This company became known Australia-wide with its production, firstly of men’s trousers and later both men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the factory was closed and the company dissolved. These shorts are of interest as an example of an item made at the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. The Fletcher Jones Clothing Company, known throughout Australia, was one of the most important industries in Warrnambool in the 20th century. These men’s shorts are made of polyester and viscose and are light brown in colour. They have an elasticised waist band with five buttons and a corded lining, three pockets and a nylon zip front opening with a metal fastener. The shorts have two labels stitched into the inside of the garment and one paper label attached to the shorts by a nylon clip. ‘Fletcher Jones Australia’fletcher jones factory, history of warrnambool

This is a family history of the Evans family, some of whose members lived in Warrnambool. The book gives details of the wife and work of a pioneer settler in Warrnambool, John Russell Evans and his wife Sarah. J.R.Evans was a road contractor and builder and was connected with several early road and building projects in the mid 19th century in Warrnambool. This book is an important addition to our Research Library as it provides comprehensive information on a pioneer Warrnambool settler, John Russell Evans and his descendants. This is a hard cover book of 188 pages. The cover is grey with gold printing on the front and the spine. It has colour and black and white photographs, sketches, maps and illustrations. ‘To the Warrnambool Historical Society in appreciation of your help with our research Ros Evans’j.r.evans & family, warrnambool, warrnambool history

Alexander Robinson was born on the 19th March 1862 and lived on the family farm, Woody Park at Aitkins Gully Warrnambool. At 18 he moved into Warrnambool and began his coach building and automotive career with Fred Morse who was one of Warrnambool's earliest coachbuilders. The business which was situated in Fairy Street was later taken over by Callaghan Motors who operated from the same site until 2017. He married Miss Lydia Humm and they had five children. He was active in community affairs and was Mayor of Warrnambool from 1907-1909. He died in September 1932. This album has photographs dating from 1907 up to 1913 and show a variety of early motor vehicles, workers and machinery. Individual photos have names of owners some of which include John j Winter, June 1912,Dr J H Henderson August 1911, D Ronaldson Ballarat 1912, Edward Owen 1913 martin Brennan 1914. The sections inside the workshop show the engineering department, Body Making, painting and smith's shop. There are also a number of Vulcan cars for which they were agents. This album is a valuable source of early motor industry history in Warrnambool. There are many local scenes as backdrops to the vehicles . Unfortunately there are no names of people in the photos.Rectangular dark green cloth covered album which has black tape down the spine. It contains a number of photographs relating to Robinson's Motors as well as newspaper cutting. There are a number of pages which are blank.Inside front cover: handwritten " Robinson's Motor Propty Limited Warrnambool.robinson motors, warrnambool, alexander robinson, robinson coachbuilders warrnambool