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 1942 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. Manual of Minerology and Petrography containing The Elements of the Science od Minerals and Rocks. Eleventh Edition Author: James D Dana Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Date: 1891 Label on spine with typed text PAT 549 DAN Pastedown end page has sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, manual of minerology and petrography, james d dana

Steam boat whistle made by John Danks & Son Height 500mm width 160mm Has a stainless steel handle attached. Whistle number 121. Circa 1900flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Service: John Henderson behind the counter of his general store in High Street, Golden Square. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Letter written on blue paper and dated 1 Jany 1872 from James Eadie, Surgeon, agreeing to attend John Niclaus Horn & family who are in good health.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, john niclaus horn, james eadie, court king of the forest

Notice Of Meeting - The Bendigo Gas Company, Half-yearly general meeting; 9th Aug. 1935. Includes business, Director's Report and Statement. John B. Young, Chairman.organization, public utility, the bendigo gas co.

Newspaper clipping, The Sun, April 15th 1972, page 25. Article by John Fraser, Six (6) small photos - 1888,1892, 1903, 1972, end of trams in Bendigo.person, individual, basil miller

Blue hard cover book. On front ' Dictionary of Derivations of the English Language', impressed into cover. Inside on first page, signed by Thomas Barry, the son of Constable John Barry.person, bendigo, thomas barry

Listed as ''Day Book - John Evans 1987-1902'' (#6). Consists of ink-penned entries of daily assay results together with monthly accounts and petty cash expenditure.bendigo, industry, sebastian cyanide works, john evans.

Pay book Royal Australian Air Force WW2 belonging to John Richard Edwards, Official No. 143936. Blue cover, faded.Next of Kin -Father Richard James Edwardsorganisation, government, military ww2, air force, edwards, world war 2

Document. Apprenticeship Indenture for John Barry with G.F.Pickles and Sons - Carriage Manufacturing Company of Sandhurst. Apprentice as Coach Body Builder,. Dated 5th February 1883, four pages.document, memo, apprenticeship indenture

Small (30 pages) booklet of the National Party of Australia - Queensland constitution as at 1st August 1976. The booklet has a red cover. Part of the Aileen and John Ellison collection.j. Ellison of the first page.national party, political party

Black and white photograph showing two men,Ray Beer and John James, wearing hard hats and lights checking mine supports at Central Deborah Mine, Bendigo.mining, business, central deborah gold mine

White box, yellow top. Written on top in blue texta ' John and Betty Sentence Matching Box 3' Box contains illustrated text matching cards and sentences.bendigo, education, bendigo north primary school

B/w photo of 3 Air Force men examining a document. Two have helmets on.The man in the middle appears to be Wg. Audio, CDr. John Downing.john downing, royal australian air force

A coloured photograph John Riley, Medic in Saigon, Baria (near Nui Dat) from January 1970 - December 1970. Service Number 2789172. HQ AFV, AATTVphotograph, behind the wire, john riley, medical, saigon, hq australian forces vietnam, aattv

L-R: George and Lucy Dick, Lucy Ranson (nee Hogan), Jean and John Hogan.|Family posing in front of loaded up trailor and car before a departure.tatura, john hogan family, costume, children, female, male, transport, motor, vehicles

In 1964, Robin and Patricia Boyd spent several weeks on a world tour - Boyd took a leading role at the International Design Conference in Aspen and he also visited Chicago, Yale University, and New York’s World Fair. The Boyds then travelled on to England, Finland (especially to see Tapiola), Russia and India to see Le Corbusier's Chandigarh, and also Hong Kong and Thailand.Colour slide in a mount. William Stone Building at Peterhouse, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, 1964. (Architects: Sir Leslie Martin and Sir Colin St John Wilson.)Made in Australia / 31 / AUG 64Mslide, robin boyd

Coloured Photograph of Cr. David John McKittrick, Mayor, City of Nunawading, August 1982 to August-November 1983 - 15 months.Extended term was due to possible triennial electionsmckittrick, david, city of nunawading

Coloured photo in Black Folder. St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Mitcham, Debutante Group 1988 group b. Mayor Valda Arrowsmith. Held at Leonda Receptions.arrowsmith, valda, st. john's catholic church, mitcham

Black and White Photograph with four men. Maldon Fire Brigade Running Team Members. L-R: John Hughes, Jack Shearer, Paull Lahn, Roy Baxtermaldon fire brigade running team

Colour slide in a mount. Melbourne Olympic Swimming Pool (1956), Melbourne, Australia. (Architects: Kevin Borland, Peter McIntyre, John and Phyllis Murphy; engineer: Bill Irwin.)Encircled 60 (Handwritten)melbourne, slide

c1908 view of Main Street Olinda with Dodd's store in foreground and Olinda State School up on the hill. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.Photo of Olinda taken about 1908 showing State School on skyline. Dodd’s store in foreground. Hodges blacksmith shop on roadside right. Coonara Road, then Mernda Road leads up out the picture right, Mt Dandenong Road goes down left. Range Road (the bullock track) is in immediate foreground and Sassafras turns to the right before the visible tracks on Mernda Road.olinda, jack dodd, general store, school

Olinda Main Street 1903 with Peter Witt's blacksmith in the foreground opposite Hodges' Smithy and the Mission Hall. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.Olinda 1903 One of the photos which were used to compile the Panorama blacksmith, peter witt, frank hodge, mission hall

1890 picture of George Dodd and his daughter Jessie (Mrs Ebbels) with the Dodd home in the background. The descriptive text on the reverse of this photograph was hand written by John Lundy-Clarke.1890 picture of George Dodd with his daughter Jessie (Mrs Ebbels) with the Dodd home in the background. Remains of the house were burned in the bushfires between 1910 and 1926 when Alan grandson of George and his wife Vera, nee Devine, started to build their home on the same spot and developed the present extensive flower farm “Rainbow Gully”.george dodd, jessie dodd, jessie ebbels

Studio portrait taken in 1917 of Andrew Park, son of George Park of Olinda in WW1 uniform. The descriptive text on the reverse of this photograph was hand written by John Lundy-Clarke.Andrew Park 1917. Son of George. Olindaandrew park, george park, olinda, ww1

Percy Child was the son of Francis Matthew (Frank) Child whose father Mathew Child was one of the first three settlers in the area. Percy ran the Child Bros. Sawmill with his brother Harry.Black and white photograph showing Percy Child using a cant-hook at Child Bros. Sawmill. This photograph has a detailed inscription on the back handwritten by John Lundy-Clarke.Charles Percival Child (Sammy) about 1910percy child, harry child, sawmill, kalorama