This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was 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 lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. 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 Ralph 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. RALPH ERIC PATTISON 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 Pattison accepted a 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 area 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 during 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 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 Lives of the Popes (7983) from the time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Reign of Sixtus IV. Written originally in Latine by Baptista Plantina Author: Paul Rycaut Publisher: Christopher Wilkinson Date: 1685This book is laether boundwarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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, great ocean road, the lives of the popes, baptista plantina, paul rycaut

This is a ticket for one adult to cruise on the P.S.Curlip 11 which operated from the Brodribb Jetty in Marlo.from 2007 - 2015. "Paddle Steamer Curlip, a 62 feet long, traditional, plank on frame carved timber vessel, that was built by the people of East Gippsland at Orbost, in far Eastern Victoria. The undertaking to design and build this vessel, as a community project commenced in 2002. The community, based around Orbost was largely dependant on the Timber industry in the surrounding Victorian High Country. With the closure of Alpine logging and the creation of vast National Parks, the people of the region needed to create a major undertaking to bond the community and engender… a sense of belonging, this was critical for many of the men, who were dispossessed with the loss of their historical timber and forestry industry." (Information from website: https://www.curlip.com.au/) The Paddle Steamer Curlip 11 is a reproduction of the historic Curlip a small paddle steamer built by Samuel Richardson and his sons at his Tabbara sawmill near Orbost. It helped open up the region in the 1880’s before road or rail, serviced East Gippsland. Much work is being done to restore the Curlip 11 so that it can begin again as a tourist cruise boat.The P.S.Curlip 11 is Victoria's only Paddle Steamer. It was a community project involving many Orbost peolpe.A rectangular, white paper ticket with black print. In red is No. 1297 and the date and cruise time are hand-written in blue pen. ttached to the back of the ticket is a printed receipt.paddle-steamer-curlip 11 tourism-orbost

Paper notes used for foreign currency. A collection of bank notes from Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Military Notes, Hong Kong, China, East Timor and Vietnam.See photo filesbank notes, military notes

Australian Dictionary of Dates and Men of The Time History of Australasia from 1542 to May 1879 Author: J H Heaton Publisher: George Robertson Date: 1879Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 994.03 HEA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Librarywarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, australian dictionary of dates and men of the time, j h heaton

Guide to services provided by Shire of Diamond Valley. The Shire of Diamond Valley was a Local Government Area located about 20 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The shire covered an area of 74.38 square kilometres and existed from 1964 until 1994.Annual guide to services in Shire of Diamond Valley32 pages, col illus., maps. Cover illustration of activity following pre-school story time for 3-5 year olds at the library. (2 copies)shire of diamond valley, greensborough, handbooks

Shows the excitement of the Queen's return from the Australian Royal Visit in 1954. This was Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Australia since ascending the throne.An example of the interest in the royal family to Australians at this time.Front page of The Argus newspaper May 17 1954. Black and white text, coloured photograph of the Queen 'stepping ashore in Britain for the first time in six monthe'queen elizabeth 2, house of windsor, duke of edinburgh, royal tour of australia 1954

An old bridge at Back Creek on the Heatherlie Quarry Rail line.Photo shows the beginning of a bridge that has become dilapidated with time. Large beams lie around covered in weeds. Bushy growth has grown over the bridge.structures, bridges

Film "The Lighthorsemen", starring Jon blake, Sigrid Thornton & Peter Phelps. Features the Light Horse charge at Beersheba. Colour, running time 116 minutes. PGcharge beersheba, dvd, lighthorsemen

Stained timber box to be attached to a wall by brass fittings. The lid opens to provide a small table for a time book. The plywood back appears to be a later addition/repair.staff, time book, furniture, ballarat school of mines

Three colour photographs of E.J Barker at the time of his retirement. The photos include the unveiling of a portrait by Geoffrey Mainwaring, and a presentation of a staff photograph under the Tree of Knowledge. e.j. barker, jack barker, geoffrey mainwarring, retirement

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from Monday, June 24, 2002. One sugar or two?: cuppa time for Pilcher's thresher team. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Victorian Railways general appendix to the book of rules and regulations, working time table April 1919. Blue paper cover, blue cloth binding that is stained and faded.document, memo, railway, victorian railways general appendix to the book of rules and regulations, working time table april 1919.

'Back to' St. Luke's Toddlers' home - 24 pages with photographs, illustrations. Includes history of St. Luke's, time line, childcare in Bendigo, residential child care.St. Luke's support committeeevent, back to, st. luke's toddlers' home, bendigo, child care, st. luke's, st. luke's orphanage, st. luke's family care.

Bendigo A History. Two Copies. A history of gold mining in Bendigo from its earliest time and the development of the city. Black and white illustrations and photographs. 282 pages.Frank Cusackbendigo, history, bendigo, goldfields, gold mining, history of goldmining, bendigo history

Book; hard cover exercise book with hard cover, containing entries for fortnightly workers hours and workers names. Mostly empty. East Clarence Time Book.MCCOLL RANKIN & STANISTREETgold mines, names of miners and hours worked, mccoll rankin & stanistreet

Bendigo Town Hall - Copy of a photograph donated by Vi Cattanach, taken by Robert Huxtable a keen amateur photograph who lived at Epsom at the time 1889-1983.bendigo, buildings, bendigo town hall

Framed photo of the very popular Lorrae Desmond who did five concert tours to Vietnam. She also visited the injured and spent time chatting with soldiersDr. Denis Gibbons AM Collectionframed photo, lorrae desmond, denis gibbons

In a time where more communities are moving towards control of their children?s education, the author explores the theoretical concept of bicultural schooling and its practical implications in the classroom.mapsbilingual education, multicultural education, biculturalism

Main Street Stawell looking East. Post Office on left, double story building. Note Post Office Hotel Rowland's as previously E. J. Copley . Real Photo Series M 673 1922. Six horse drawn carts along the street and people moving around the shops. Also the telegraph poles in this photo have 4 cross timber beams on the previous photo they only had 3 cross timber beams. Sepia photo of Main Street, Stawell c 1920's. The street scene show the commercial businesses of the time with horse and carts being the main form of transport.Main Street, Stawell. Victoria. Real Phot Series. M.673. Printed on the back "Published by the Valentine & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd. Melbourne Sydney & Brisbane.stawell streetscape

Coloured postcard with a photo of Christina Cock and two views of the Lake Park Nursing Home.|Christina is the oldest Australian. Born in 1887 and at time of cataloguing is still alive.cock, christina, blackburn, lake park nursing home