This book was supplied by the Victorian Education Department for all Grade 5 students at Government schools. Each student had one including the local family who passed it on to another family member. Books were covered to protect them. In this case a stiff, dull plastic.Historical: Used by grade 5 students in Victorian Government Schools. Provenance: Used and handed down to family members in Tawonga where they lived and went to school.Pale coloured pinkish plastic with white landscape picture in white on it covers the hard covered book. Parts of the plastic have small tears and is wrinkled. Inside front cover: Ann Louden On title page: G. Daviesprimary school. education. victorian education department. tawonga. davies. louden. reader.

The opening of the Tawonga Hall was celebrated in the evening on Wednesday 11th March 1925. A band played and guests danced.This 'programme' was used by people in the district who attended the opening of the Tawonga Hall in 1925.This is a small programme for the evening of the opening of the Tawonga Hall in 1925. It also doubled as a dance engagement book for the evening. Front cover "Programme" is printed It is in the form of folded cardboard with a picture of a rose on the cover that passes through a white tag entitled 'Programme' on the stem of the rose. Edges have spaced zig-zag cuts in groups of 6. On back of front a lot writing printed in black. Opposite is a list of 15 dances eg. Waltz with space for names of partners. On the folded card a hole has been pierced at the top left hand corner with red wool threaded through and a small pencil hanging at the end of it. tawonga public hall, programme, opening ceremony, dance programme, annie sullivan

During the 1940's students learnt typing as part of a Commercial Course. This book enabled students to complete a practical course by following the graded Exercises and Lessons and by testing their progress. Historical: Typing was taught at Intermediate level during the 1940's for students living in the Kiewa Valley. Green hard cover book bound at the top with black border, title, author & symbol of Pitman's on the front. Towards the bottom of the book (front and back) is an eyelet with a hole enabling a brown cord to pass through (held by a metal T stopper). This enables the book to be stood up next to the typewriter for easy to see copying. The back cover of the book has 3 white stickers with typed information. On the back cover -typed - 'Janice Burnett (nee Seager)... Also "1946 George Seager (Ted) was in Intermediate Commercial "A" ... Some pages have penciled markingstyping. commercial education. janice burnett. george seager. office work

This book contains information on the building of suspension bridges and dates from the 1890s. It belonged to John William Crawley Junior, an engineer, surveyor and architect in private practice in Warrnambool and also the engineer for the Shire of Warrnambool from 1895 to 1935. The information in the book comes in the form of lectures on suspension bridge making and these were sent to John Crawley by his tutor or coach, Arnold Lilley (Lilly). Arnold Lilley was an Oxford mathematician working in Victoria and it is said that he coached or trained 95% of the municipal surveyors in Victoria in the 1890s. John Crawley has obviously had this material bound into a book and it was passed on to his son, Rolf, who was the engineer for the Shire of Warrnambool from 1935 to 1968. It then came into the possession of Michael Hand who took over the private surveying business of Rolf Crawley in Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society acquired the book, along with several Crawley ledgers and letter books, from the estate of Michael Hand. This book is of interest as it contains lectures and other material on the building of suspension bridges and belonged to John William Crawley Junior, an engineer for the Shire of Warrnambool for 40 years. It also is a memento of the work of Arnold Lilley who produced the material on suspension bridges and coached John Crawley in his surveying studies.This is a hard cover book with a purple cover. The cover is slightly faded. The book contains handwritten material regarding the building of suspension bridges and includes sketches, lectures on suspension bridges and pages with postage stamps on them. There are three loose pages. ‘’Letters on Suspension Bridges Arnold Lilly Esq. Coach J Wm. Crawley Pupil’john william crawley junior, warrnambool, rolf crawley, warrnambool, shire of warrnambool, arnold lilley, teacher of surveying.

Nillumbik Commissioners used 'reserve power's to permit a controversial Shell service station and Hungry Jackls restaurant development at the former Eltham Shire Office site at 895 Main Road. More than 200 people attended the Council meeting in the public gallery and protested at the decision. 32 personal submissions were made to Council's Planning Special Committee meeting whose members vioted 3-2 against the development. The Committee consisted of the three Nillumbik Commissioners and three community members (Jim Connor, Bronwyn South and Janet Mattiske). Chief Commissioner Don Cordell, a former Shell employee excused himself from voting and the three communbity memebrs voted against the submission. The other two commissioners, Vin Heffernan and Kevin Abbott voted against it. They then immediately closed the meeting and opened a Council meeting lasting just seconds to use special reserve powers to overturn the decision. Community residents who made submissions included Russell Yeomans speaking on behalf of the Eltham Gateway Action Group and Eltham District Historical Society, Des Ryan on belaf of Eltham Senior Citizens, Angela Newhouse, others on behalf of Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School and Judge Book Village, Tom Munro, Ian Jennings, Margartet Ball a fifth generation descendant of the Shillinglaw family, one of the early settlers of the area and owner of the land that was sold to Council, Frank Burgoyne who said "there will be a lot of creaking and rumbling in the cemetery if this goes through. So many old people who have done so much for Eltham are buried up there and it is up to us to pass on what they left to the younger generation. Eltham is a beautiful spot; why louse it up?" A second article "Anger over reserve power" by Laeta Antonysen provides commentary from the three Planning Special Committee community members, former Eltham Shire Councillor Jim Connor, Bronwyn South and Janet Mattiske about the process that took place and the first time use of the spoecial reserve power to overturn the decision of the committee. Barry Rochford, Nillumbiuk CEO defends the use of the power.The demolition of the former Shire of Eltham offices and proposed sale and development driven by the Commissioners for Nillumbik Shire Council brought the community together in substantial protest at the infrigement of ratepayers democratic say in local government and ciommunity assets combined with protests about inappropraite development of Eltham's Gateway. This issue led to the formation of the Eltham Community Action Group which still operates strongly today (2023) on behalf of the community to ensure appropriate development within the community.895 main road, commissioners, dallas price homes, development application, eltham hub, hungry jacks, nillumbik shire council, re-zoning, shell service station, town planning, eltham gateway, eltham gateway action group, eltham shire offices, shillinglaw farm, shillinglaw trees, jim connor collection, dallas howgate, nillumbik planning special committee, jim connor, bronwyn south, janet mattiske, don cordell, vin heffernan, kevin abbott, russell yeomans, eltham district historical society, eltham senior citizens, des ryan, our lady help of christians primary school, judge book village, angela newhouse, tom munro, ian jennings, margaret ball, shillinglaw cottage, frank burgoyne, andrew biasci, barry rochford

Brenda Smith's parents lived throuh two World Wars and the Depression. As an adult migrant arriving in Australia from England in 1970, when she looked back she realised her family spoke very little about what they had endured and she was not even aware of them going through the Spanish Flu pandemic. Smith has written a diary since 2009 and as a consquence of her family's earlier experiences with similar but lack of documentation and stories passed on, was determined to chronicle her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic covering 2020-2021. This pandemic continues unabated in its third year (2022). The journal documents the daily life of living through the COVID-19 pandemic and the influences it had uopon the local community from both locally and interantionallycovid-19, coronavirus pandemic, journal, person, personal narrative

93 pagesnon-fictionHistory of the Rooks family and farm, located at 167 Allendale Road, Diamond Creek. The property was first settled in 1865 and held by four generations of the family always retaining its rural landscape. Family archives and historical newspaper reports supplemented with photographs from the collection of Nillumbik Historical Society have contributed to the telling of this family history and history of the property. Hailing from Cambridgeshire England, the Diamond Creek pioneer settler was Isaac Rooks. He, his brothers and descendants are all profiled. The story of the Maroondah Aqueduct which passed through the property is also discussed including the recent development of the Aqueduct trail. More recently managed by Eric Rooks whose story is also represented, Eric donated the property to the National Trust upon his death in 2020 with the condition that a Reserve would be established.diamond creek, rooks family, isaac rooks, maroondah aqueduct, maroondah aqueduct trail

This file contains 5 items. A limited edition of a book "A History of the Bentleigh East Primary School No. 2083 formerly Bentleigh formerly East Brighton 1878-1978" published to mark the centenary of the Bentleigh East Primary School celebrated from 1 – 5th August 1978. The book was compiled by the Principal Peter Morris and is a collection of incidents, reminiscences and anecdotes arranged in chronological order to capture the character of the differing periods through which the school passed. It provides an insight to the development of the area and of the school and includes a list of school principals from 1878 – 1978, an honor roll for WW1 students etc. Notes on the Camm family who donated the School Centenary Book A newspaper article on the centenary celebrations. The article is undated and the source is not known. It includes 2 photographs of the celebrations. A name badge for Duchie Laven issued for the centenary. The badge is on pink cardboard. A Black + White school photograph taken in 1948. Josephine and Wilma Newman are identified in the photograph.malane thomas market gardener, atkinson william – head teacher 1878 – 1883, initial school staff, jack margaret, stevens eliza (pupil teacher), water supply, mills henry (prominent head teacher), craig robert district inspector, centre road, primitive methodist church 22/07/1884, tram lines, taylor mr., head teacher list, shelter sheds., joyce colin dr., thiele mr. (head teacher), north road state school, ormond state school no 3074, east bentleigh state school, east brighton state school no. 2083, bentleigh state school no 2083, bentleigh east primary school no 2083, school 213 brighton east, bentleigh elementary school no 2083, bentleigh west state school no 4318, coatesville primary school, tucker road moorabbin primary school, bent thomas sir, honor lists, honour book, awards, snowball o.r. mla gilbert mr. head teacher, brighton gas lighting, sloyd classes, gilbert mr. (head teacher), cross bob (pupil), school strap, henderson w. (district inspector), school rooms, school work books, schools, school concerts, school committees, caretaker’s residence, fencing, higgins a., higgins stan, bentleigh public hall, marriott william (chairman school committee), bentleigh theatre, old scholars, trenches 1937 (slit), donald j.r. (head teacher), war savings certificates, shelter pavilions, bristol units – classrooms, redmond mr (head teacher), school pedestrian crossings, sound systems, school canteen, world war 1914 – 1918, electricity supply, salmagundi, tamrakis socrates, school libraries, railway stations, education, school rolls, market gardens, cattle – nuisance, bushrangers, toll gates, chinese school, chinese community, school curriculum – historical, flora, aborigines, snakes, migrant teachers, japanese language, rats, caretaker’s residences, fencing, cattle, horse racing, caulfield military hospital, advertising, street lighting, anglican school st stephens, chinese christian church arthur’s seat road (now nepean hwy), st john’s anglican church bentleigh, hit & miss hotel, live & let live hotel, plough & harrow hotel, moorabbin district roads board, army huts, higgins stan mr, . marriott william mr, cremean mr. mla, arnett kevin, vanderlaven vanderlaven adrian, vanderlaven josephine, laven fredericha willamena, laven adrian, laven duchie, newman wilma, newman josephine, camm josephine, marshall gladys, neville gladys, holis ivy, monroe victor, duckmanton keith, tram lines - mordialloc sandringham, school paper, public works dept., springthorpe j.w. dr., vosey joseph, camm terry, camm josie, barrenger elsie, bentleigh oval, race course east bentleigh 1899, keys's hotel, unveiling of honor book and cabinet 25/08/1922

A book describing beauty spots and waterfalls in the Upper Yarra ValleyPaperback. Front cover has a black and white photograph of Mathinna Falls.A selection of beauty spots within the Upper/ Yarra Region, which once made the valley/ Victoria's foremost tourist destination./ Many of the sites have since been neglected or/ closed to public access, leaving tourists to pass by,/ and travel on to distant places./ By associating episodes of our fascinating past/ with these sites, we learn that there is more than/ just natural beauty to be re-discovered. Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779upper yarra valley, beauty spot, waterfalls

This is a set of 30 photographs of contractors installing the Army Survey Regiment’s new Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 printing press in Lithographic Squadron’s purpose-built printing building at Fortuna, Bendigo in 1990. The computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press provided the Royal Australian Survey Corps vastly improved printing capability, as the five colours for a standard topographic map was printed in a single pass. The print room was named Wayzgoose Hall after a medieval printing house festival. Wayzgoose Hall and the Speedmaster printing capability was commissioned by the Commander of the 3rd Military District BRIG P. Davies AM, ADC on Wednesday 27th June 1990. This occasion is covered in more detail in page 145 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 30 photograph of the Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Printing Press installation in Lithographic Squadron, Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, 1990. The photographs were on 35mm colour negative film and were scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. No personnel are identified. Annotated with date on negative sleeve.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, litho, printing

This is a photograph of the Director Survey - COL Simon Lemon, CO Army Svy Regt - LTCOL Bob McHenry and probably OC Litho - MAJ Terry Lord inspecting the 1St topographic map printed on the new Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Printing Press in c1992. *Estimated date based on the Director’s and CO’s period of appointment. The computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press provided the Royal Australian Survey Corps vastly improved printing capability, as the five colours for a standard topographic map was printed in a single pass. The print room was named Wayzgoose Hall after a medieval printing house festival. Wayzgoose Hall and the Speedmaster printing capability was commissioned by the Commander of the 3rd Military District BRIG P. Davies AM, ADC on Wednesday 27th June 1990. This occasion is covered in more detail in page 145 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4. Colonel Simon Lemon was Director of the Royal Australian Survey Corps from January 1991 to June 1996.This is a photograph of three senior RASvy officers inspecting the first topographic map printed on the Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Printing Press in Lithographic Squadron, Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, c1992. The photograph is on 35mm black and white negative film and was scanned at 96 dpi. It is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. No personnel are identified. royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

Black soft covered exercise book with handwrritten examination results for Shorthand at the Ballarat School of Mines. Each students name is given, and whether they passed, failed or got a Credit. In some years their mark out of 100 was given.shorthand, ballarat school of mines, examination results, phyllud bradley, dorothy serjeant, marjorie dermer, linda gibson, maude williams, phyllis gower, millie perlman, euphemic wishart, esther berry, jean mcgregor, william elsworth, john scarff, rheita mcilvena, saba swan, nancy beames, lenis proctor, isabel kopke, john pearson, robert sutherland, lorna williams, john quayle, lorna geary, una thompson, john rogers, ive nott, keith davey, mary keith, gladys kitt, akice bird, lyla harvey, doris wright, pamsy ellisadeline blake, lorna sykes, joyce mitchell, jean wilkinson, pansy ellis, e. dahlenburg, alice bird, may curry, phyllis loveland, frank franklin, doreen radford, annie saunders, mriam metz, raymond carey, ray currey, mina long, albert richardson, l. valpied, j. morrow, joan ellis, denise kidd, b. forte

Shirley Flower Ramsay attended CPLC 1935 - 1945; sister of Margery and Robert. Medium blue cloth bound book with gold lettering on spine and school crest embossed on front cover; book plate inside front coverBook plate inside front cover: Clarendon Presbyterian / Ladies College / Ballarat / school crest / Awarded to / Shirley Ramsay / Prize Proficiency / Form Pass VI / H I Mathieson / Principal / December 1945. shirley-flower-ramsay, 1945, book-prize, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, helen-mathieson

Shirley Ramsay attended CPLC 1935 - 1945; sister of Margery and Robert.Dark blue cloth bound book with gold lettering on spine and school crest embossed on front cover; book plate inside front cover. Book plate inside front cover: Book plate inside front cover: Clarendon Presbyterian / Ladies College / Ballarat / school crest / Awarded to / Shirley Ramsay / Prize Proficiency / Form VI Pass / H I Mathieson / Principal / December 1945. shirley-ramsay, 1945, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, book-prize

This notebook contains information on air navigation and electrical science. It was issued to Roy Eliason (449852), a Shepparton local who enlisted in 1944 and served as a Leading Aircraftman with the 2nd Operational Training Unit Mildura. Contents include: Appendix I: Law, Discipline, Administration and Organisation, Hygiene and Sanitation, Notes on Meteorology, Definitions, The principles of flight, Airframes, Engine; Appendix II: Mathematics problems for revision.This notebook has significant research potential, as it bears the service number of the owner: Roy Eliason. Roy Eliason's service history is well documented in the National Archives of Australia and this book provides an insight into a period of his service. Notebooks such as this were presumably issued to new recruits in the early stages of their service. Though this copy is in fair condition with several signs of wear, these signs may in fact increase the significance of the item, demonstrating the frequent use of this item in the hands of a new recruit to the Royal Australian Air Force. Series of pages bound via twine passed through four holes along left side. Front and back cover are card with orange vinyl/fabric strip and paper cover bearing title text. Orange pages throughout mark sections. Book printed throughout.Inscribed on front cover: "449852/AC2 ELIASON R/B/2". Inscribed on interior "449852/ELIASON. R./B/2". air navigation, training, royal australian air force, raaf, eliason, world war ii, wwii, second world war

These booklets were issued to Soldiers and/or Sailors for the purchase of food,etc whilst on leave.They were only valid from the time your leave began until it finishes.Pass containing Leave or Duty Ration Book - Pte J.L. McIntyre issued 1918.Both are rectangular in shape.One is yellow in colour,the other is grey.Leave or duty ration book. Soldier or Sailor.booklet,ration book,lara r.s.l., mcintyre collection

On the 1945 Leave Pass the HQ Staff had the carbon paper in the book back to front. The reverse writing can be seen on the back. Refer also Cat No 3344..1) AMF Leave Pass for VF508825 Cpl WARREN I M, dated 25.8.1945, Sydney. .2) AMF Leave Pass for VF508825 Gnr WARREN I, dated 25.6.1944. Watchley Battery..1) & .2) “Completed in pencil”administrative record, leave, pass

6th Edition updated by Rod Beattie. Contains many contemporary & modern photographs of the Thai - Burma railway. Book details the construction of the memorial & reclamation of the railway.Illustrated soft card cover. Title in blue letters. Stapled binding. 40 cut edge pages. Contains black & white & colour illustrations.On title page: John W Toon ex POW, Jack Fitzgerald (?) OAM ex POW, Donated by Dean Hayes.books-military-history, memorials

Soft cover paper book, black print on white paper. Black & white photos, illustrated, maps, 16 pages.Thailand Hellfire Pass Ex POW Project J W Toon VX30397 Ex POW D Force Thailand 1943 Stamp: Fund Sec John W Toon 11 Lloyd Ave, Narre Warren 3805 7046866books, military, history, forced labour

Book, soft cover. Main background on front cover is red & white. Title is white ink on black background. Bottom half has 2 images showing Germans searching a British soldier & 4 Japanese guards lined up. 159 pages, illustrations, some maps & drawings.Donated by Bgo YMCA Stamped on 2nd fly leaf: Thailand Hellfire Pass ex POW Projectbooks, military, history, imprisonment

Book, hard cover, red colour buckram, gold print on spine, 214 cut plain pages, illustrated black & white photographs.Handwritten in blue ink on front flyleaf: N S Barningham In blue ink on front flyleaf: RSL Stampbooks, military history

Stamp - Thailand Hellfire Pass. (Ex POW project fund. See John W. Toon OAM, 11 LLoyd Ave Narre Warren 3805 - 7046866 John W Tooen VX 30397 Ex POW "D" force Thailand 1943. Soft cardboard cover. Illustrated, sepia photographs, black print, green print beige colour cover. Pages 198. Black and White photos.books-military-history, burma railroad

Book hardcover - front cover is coloured red and black. Stylized imperial Japanese flag. Image of rail track in central foreground. Rising sun at top. Writing is in white ink. Japanese writing on left. Pages 141. Illustrated with maps and photos."Donated by BGO YMCA". "Bill 0 with my best wishes - RUSSELL SAVAGE October 1995" Thailand Hellfire Pass - Ex POW Project. books-military-history, japan

Soft cover with photo of author on front. Title and author on spine. Red background. Photo of 5 figures and sunset scene on red background on back. Illustrated with 368 pages.Donated by BGO YMCA - JOHN W. TOON OAM EX POW on first page. OWEN CAMPBELL passed on 2003 on back page.books, military history

Indentured students appear to be those enrolled to complate an Associateship at the Ballarat School of Mines.Harcdcovered, charcoal book maroon leather bindingjames gibson, indentured students, watson latham, israel flegeltaub, weston eustace moriaty, herbert r. sleeban, william reid, marcus marks, isodoe g. wittkowski, samuel warrick smith, a. j. coltman, charles burbury, frederick p. paul, solly, john richardson, thomas uthwatt, archibald l. ray, hector g. brickhil, sydney radcliff

This telescope was amongst various items collected from a sea dive in Port Phillip Bay. The diver was the caretaker of the Port Lonsdale Lighthouse, who dived on various wrecks in the bay during the 1960's. After the caretaker's death, his son sold off many of the shipwreck artefacts. The telescope was purchased from the caretaker's son in the 1990's by a previous owner of the Marine Shop, Queenscliff, Victoria. John Browning was particularly well known for his scientific advances in the fields of spectroscopy, astronomy, and optometry. Between 1856 and 1872, Browning acquired provisional patents for designs of numerous scientific instruments. He was also the recipient of an award at the 1862 International Exhibition held in London. Also recognised for his temperature-compensated aneroid barometer. Browning's scientific instruments were used in physics, chemistry, and biology. The products he designed and manufactured included spectroscopes, telescopes, microscopes, barometers, photometers, cameras, ophthalmologist, and electrical equipment such as electric lamps. John Browning was born around 1831 in Kent, England. His father, William Spencer Browning, was a maker of nautical instruments. John Browning's great-grandfather was also an instrument maker as well as John’s brother Samuel Browning of the firms Spencer & Browning and Spencer, Browning & Rust, who also manufactured navigational instruments. The latter firm was in operation in London from 1784 to 1840 and was succeeded by the firm of Spencer, Browning & Co. John Browning initially intended to follow the medical profession and entered Guy's Hospital, a teaching hospital and a school of medicine. Despite having passed the required examinations, however, he abandoned his plans. Instead, he apprenticed with his father, William Spencer Browning. At the same time, in the late 1840s, he was a student attending the Royal College of Chemistry several days per week. By the early 1870s, practical optics had become John Browning's primary interest, and he listed his occupation as an optician on the census records from 1871 to 1901. He was well known among London's ophthalmic surgeons for his various ophthalmic instruments. He had a large part in reforming the art of crafting spectacles. Other achievements were as an author of the book, How to Use Our Eyes and How to Preserve them by the Aid of Spectacles. Published in 1883, the book included thirty-seven illustrations, including a diagram demonstrating the anatomy of the eye. In 1895, he was one of the founders of the "British Ophthalmology" the first professional organisation for optometry. He was not only its first president but also registered as its first member so many considered him to be the first professional optometrist. Other professional organisations he belonged too was as a member of “The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain”. In 1871 constructing the first wind tunnel located at Greenwich Marine Engineering Works. He was also a member of other scientific organisations, such as the “Microscopical Society of London”, the “Meteorological Society”, and the “Royal”. Then in 1908 the company of W. Watson & Son, opticians and camera makers, took over John Browning's company since 1901 John Browning had been semi-retired but in 1908 he fully retired and moved to Bournemouth in Hampshire. He died in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1925.The telescope is significant for its association with one of the world’s leading scientific instrument makers and inventor of the 19th and early 20th century. It is believed the donation came off a wreck either in Port Philip Bay or between Point Lonsdale and the Nepean Heads making it a significant maritime historical artefact. Its provenance is good given it was taken off a wreck in this area by the Point Lonsdale lighthouse caretaker. Examples of John Browning's telescopes because of their scientific and historical importance are highly valued by collectors.Marine style single draw brass telescope with a sunshade. The single draw has no split and the second cartridge is held in a long brass tube within the single draw, mounted from the objective end. The eyepiece is flat and at the end of the first draw in a very faded engraving that is believed to read "John Browning, 63 Strand, and should read London under the word strand but this is hard to establish given the engravings condition. This interpretation of the engraving has been arrived at by examination of other John Browning telescope engraving examples."John Browning, engraved to the first tube in copper plate style "63 STRAND" Engraved under in capital textflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, port phillip bay, port lonsdale lighthouse, wreck, 1960’s diver, queenscliff marine shop, john browning, telescope, spectroscopy, optometry, scientific instruments, william spencer browning, optician, navigational instrument, microscopical society of london, aeronautical society, marine technology

This book “Bethel Merriday” is a novel written by Sinclair Lewis and published in 1940. It is part of Flagstaff Hill’s group of books belonging to the Pattison Collection. 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 won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for his book “Arrowsmith” but declined because he had been helped in the writing of it by science writer Paul de Kruif, who received 25% of royalties on the sales. However, Lewis is listed as the sole author. 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. 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: Bethel Merriday Author: Sinclair Lewis Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London Date: 1940 Hardback board book covered with cream-brown linen. The author’s name is printed in black on the front cover and on the spine. The spine also has the book’s title, a symbol and a white adhesive label with a typed library call number. Inside the front cover pasted down endpaper are two printed labels. On the front loose endpaper is an imprint of a stamp. The book, a novel, is part of the Pattison Collection originally belonging to the Warrnambool Public Library.Adhesive label - “PAT / FIC / LEW” Front pasted down endpaper has a printed label from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front pasted down endpaper has a printed label from the Warrnambool Public Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from the Corangamite Regional Library Serviceflagstaff 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, american novel, jonathan cape, sinclair lewis, harry sinclair lewis, 1930 nobel prize for literature, bethel merriday