These ink wells have been used in the Warrnambool business of Swintons Pty Ltd in the mid 20th century. William and Ann Swinton migrated to Australia in 1854 and for a decade William Swinton worked as a builder and carpenter in the Warrnambool area, erecting many buildings, including the Wangoom Presbyterian Church. In 1865 he opened a store in Timor Street, Warrnambool, selling groceries, hardware, glassware and china. By 1888 the business was known as William Swinton and Sons. Branch stores were opened in Cudgee, Nullawarre, Wangoom, West Warrnambool and South Warrnambool. After William Swinton died his son became the first managing director of Swintons Pty Ltd. In 1934 the business split, with George Swinton and Sons selling clothing, furnishings and glassware and Swintons Pty Ltd selling produce, seeds and hardware. Today the Swinton family still operates a store in Timor Street, selling furniture and bedding. These ink wells are of interest as examples of the office equipment used by the firm of Swintons Pty Ltd in the mid 20th century. The current Swinton store in Timor Street is the oldest family business in Warrnambool and, with the name Swinton associated with businesses in Timor Street, it is amongst the oldest family businesses in Australia. These are two black Bakelite ink wells. They have a rectangular-shaped base with a curved top with a rectangular-shaped container at the top for holding ink. The ink container has a sliding top which is worked by means of a small mechanism or button sliding up and down in a slot. swinton family, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This item is one that was sold to tourists in Warrnambool in the mid to late 20th century. The dish has been mass produced in England and the image of Shelly Beach in Warrnambool added later, probably in Australia. As it is a Royal Stafford china piece it would have been a relatively costly item. It could have been bought for use in the buyer’s home or as a present for another person. Souvenir dishes such as this one have been popular souvenir items for tourists for over 100 years. Warrnambool, as a coastal location, has always been a tourist town and it remains today an important industry for the city. This dish is of interest as an example of the items sold to tourists in the mid 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is an oval-shaped china dish with fluted sides and a fluted edge and gold paint around the edge. The gold edging is partly worn off. The dish is white with a multi-coloured image set into the base of the dish. There is a crack on one side of the dish. On the base of the dish is a crown symbol and details of the manufacturer. ‘Shelly Beach, Warrnambool, Victoria’ “Royal Stafford China Made in England” tourism in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These Union Jack flags are believed to have been used in the celebrations in Warrnambool on the occasion in 1953 of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11 (oral tradition only). Warrnambool celebrated with street parades, shop decorations and displays, concerts, church services and dinners. It was customary at the time to use the British flag more than the Australian one. These flags are retained because of their possible connection to mid 20th century Warrnambool celebrations (1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11).These are seven Union Jack flags made of cloth with red, white and blue colouring. The flags are pasted on to thin circular-shaped wooden sticks. The flags are a little worn, especially near the pasted sections and some of the colours are rubbed. coronation of queen elizabeth 11, history of warrnambool

This shield was awarded in 1909 by the Rifle Clubs of South Western Victoria for a rifle-shooting competition. Rifle Clubs operated in Warrnambool from 1860 and possibly earlier and in 1904 a union of rifle clubs in the Warrnambool district was formed - the South Western District Rifle Clubs' Union. Edward Geary was a member of the Mounted Rifles, G Company in the 1890s and served as a sergeant in the Boer War, 1899-1900. He was commended by the founder and commandant of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, Colonel Tom Price, for his bravery in South Africa rescuing wounded soldiers under heavy fire. After the Boer War Geary continued to serve in the Mounted Rifles local unit (later called Australian Lighthorse). He was also a long-time member of the Warrnambool Rifle Club and won this trophy as a member of a Lighthorse unit. This shield is of interest as an example of the early 20th century trophies awarded by the Warrnambool district Rifle Clubs. Gun Clubs and Rifle Clubs have been existing in the Warrnambool district since the 1860s. This is a small wooden shield, lightly polished on the front surface. It has silver-coloured metal plates attached by metal pins to the front of the shield in the form of a scroll, two fern or laurel leaves, printed information and a crown with two crossed rifles. At the back is a metal clip to enable the shield to stand up. 'The Warrnambool Citizens Challenge Shield for Competition by Teams, 1909, of Rifle Clubs in the S.W. District of Victoria won by No.1 Sq. XI, A.L.H. Handicap 65, Total Score 579, Arm. Sgt. E. Geary 88'warrnambool rifle club, edward geary, south western district rifle clubs union, warrnambool history

Magneto wall telephones such as this one were commonly in use in Australia around the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The wall telephone, powered by dry cells, was an invention of the late 1870s. In the first half of the 20th century many old wall telephones were restored and put back in use by the Australian P.M.G. when there was a shortage of telephones in the 1930s Depression and during World War Two. This item, a reminder of the days of early technology, has no known local provenance but is retained for display and research purposes.This telephone piece is contained within a brown wooden box with a back board that has curved edges and extends over the edges of the box. On the back there are three metal screws for attaching the box to a wall or door. The front section of the box has curved edges with an inset panel around the edges. There is a metal turning handle on one side of the box and on the other side there is a metal clip holding a hearing piece attached to the box by a cord. On the front of the box is a speaking piece attached to the box by a metal piece. Attached to the front of the box are two semi-circular ringing pieces now situated some centimetres out from the box. The box was originally varnished but the edges are now rubbed and there are some splotches of paint. vintage wall telephones, history of warrnambool, magneto wall telephones

These labels were used in the business of E.B.Phillips, firstly when he as in partnership with Thomson in the late 1890s and later when he was the sole proprietor. Ernest Brighton Phillips (1875-1924) was a furniture maker and seller with a business at the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets. At the beginning of the 20th century it was the largest furniture warehouse and factory in Victoria outside of Melbourne. Samples of his furniture making are still in use in various parts of Australia. Philips built his home, ‘Heatherlie’, diagonally opposite his business and this site today is occupied by ‘Heatherlie’ flats for the elderly.These labels are of interest as mementoes of the Warrnambool furniture shop and factory of E.B.Phillips, a prominent businessman in Warrnambool a hundred or more years ago. .1 A sheet of cream-coloured paper with cream printing on an orange background and a space for an address. The sheet has two ragged edges. .2 A circular label or sticker pasted on to an irregular-shaped sheet of brown paper (part of the original wrapping). The label has an image in brown and white tonings of a woman with an easel, some stylized decoration and blue and white printing. The edges of the label are worn away. .1 Late with J.J.O’Mullane From Phillips, Thomson and Co. General House Furnishers Corner Liebig & Koroit Sts. Warrnambool .2 Framed by E.B.Phillips The Artistic House Furnisher and Picture Framer Warrnambool ernest brighton phillips, history of warrnambool, labels, heatherlie

This knitting pattern book dates from about the 1940s. Garments made with a Fair Isle pattern, especially sleeveless vests for men, were popular at that time. In the early to mid 20th century in Australia many of the woollen garments worn were handmade. Today this is not the case and hand-knitted garments are rare. Miss McClure had a lingerie and babywear shop at 114 Liebig Street before the building was demolished in 1953. This book is of minor interest as an example of a 1940s knitting pattern book and as a memento of Miss McClure’s shop in Liebig Street at that time. This is a booklet of 16 pages. It has a white cover with a red edging and black and white photographs and black printing on the front and back cover. The pages contain instructions for knitting six garments.Fair Isles For the Family Miss McClure Liebig Streetmiss mcclure, liebig street, history of warrnambool, knitting pattern books

This is the seat from the aeroplane of Basil Watson. Photographs held by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society confirm that this was Watson’s aeroplane seat. He was a pioneer aviator who had built his own plane which was 5.5 metres long with a wingspan of 8 metres. It had a 7-cylinder 50 HP rotary Gnome engine. Basil Watson flew this aircraft to Warrnambool in January 1917, becoming the first person to fly to Warrnambool, coming from Point Cook in one hour 55 minutes – an Australian cross-country flying record at that time. Watson amazed Warrnambool crowds with his dare-devil flying, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool racecourse. He also brought with him the first aerial post to arrive in Warrnambool and the Warrnambool and District Historical Society has the letter he brought written by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. Two months after he was in Warrnambool Basil Watson was killed when his plane crashed near Point Cook in March 1917. Parts of the plane were salvaged and the seat was donated to the old Warrnambool Museum in 1918. It remained there until the museum was dismantled in the early 1960s and it was later passed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. The tag on the seat today is an old Warrnambool Museum label. This is a most significant item as it is the original seat from the aeroplane of Basil Watson, an important early aviator in Australia’s history and it is also an early 20th century memento of the many treasures from the old Warrnambool Museum (1883-1963). The seat shows the primitive nature of early 20th century aeroplanes in Australia. This is a metal (galvanized iron) seat with a semi-circular base and a curved back stretching around from one end of the base to the other end. The back has a rolled metal edging on the base and the top. On the sides are two slots with a khaki-coloured cloth strap passing through the slots. This strap has a metal buckle at the end. The metal in the seat is somewhat blotched and discoloured. A luggage label is tied to one of the slots and has a name typed on it.Mr Watsonbasil watson, aviator, old warrnambool museum, history of warrnambool

This is a book offering the reader ways to combat mental and spiritual stress. The author, the Rev. Gordon Powell (1911-2005) was born in Warrnambool to Louisa and George Powell. His father was a dentist in Kepler Street Warrnambool. Gordon Powell was educated in Melbourne and was a Presbyterian Minister in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and U.S.A. He was an R.A.A.F. chaplain in World War Two and established the Alcoholics Anonymous organization in Victoria. At St. Stephens Church in Sydney he attracted large attendances at both his Sunday and week-day services and became well-known for his religious radio broadcasts. He wrote several books and many articles for religious journals. This book is retained because it is the only piece of writing we have by the Rev. Gordon Powell who was born in Warrnambool in 1911 and was one of the most influential Presbyterian Church ministers in Australia in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 128 pages. The hard cover is blue with black printing on the spine. The dust cover has printing on the back cover and spine and a colour photograph of a path and parkland with red printing on the front cover. The pages contain an introduction and twelve chapters of text. rev. gordon powell, australian presbyterian church, history of warrnambool

This meat safe has no known local provenance but it would be typical of the safes used in a domestic situation to house fresh meat. Usually the safe was hung in a house corridor or verandah or outside in a cool place where there was a breeze that passed through the mesh and kept the contents cool. The mesh also prevented flies and other insects from getting into the safe. Meat safes were widely used in Australian homes in the 19th century and early to mid 20th century, sometimes in conjunction with ice chests, until they were replaced by refrigerators. This item is retained for display purposes as an example of domestic food preservation in Australia 80 to 100 years ago.This is a metal box with a rectangular-shape base and a semi-circular top. All sides except the top and the bottom are made of fine metal mesh. The front is reinforced with metal strips and has a metal clip. The curved top is ridged and has a metal clip.The safe is somewhat rusted and damaged. Registered under Commonwealth Act Nos. 101-102-103 G.W.Rowleyfood preservation – australia, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These badges were produced about 1918 or 1919 to gain finds to assist Australian soldiers discharged from the armed forces after serving in World War One. One source suggests that the badges were sold only in South Australia and raised £500,000 but, as these badges are part of the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in Victoria it is likely that they were sold throughout Australia. The sale of badges such as these was a common way of raising funds for charitable causes, especially during World War One and also during the first half of the 20th century. These badges are retained as examples of the type of badges sold during World War One. They will be useful for display purposes. .1 A circular-shaped metal badge with a gold outer edging and a brown background with a laurel wreath, a star and brown printing within a cream-coloured heart. The badge has a clip at the back. .2 as above Discharged Soldiers’ Fund For Our Returned Soldiers Copyright world war one, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, australian soldiers, south australia

In the 1950s and 60s what we know as netball today was played by women and was known as basketball. No information has been found on this Warrnambool Basketball Association but it is most probable, however, that it was an early organization of men’s basketball teams. The game of basketball, founded in America, has become much more popular in Australia for both men and women in the last three or four decades with the local organization in Warrnambool known as Warrnambool Basketball Inc. and the teams Warrnambool Seahawks and Mermaids playing in a state-wide competition. This badge is retained for display purposes as an example of a sporting badge from the mid 20th century.This is a metal badge in the shape of a shield with gold lettering on a brown background and gold-coloured images of a net and ball on a green background. It has a metal ring at the top for attachment to a ribbon or cord.Warrnambool Amateur Basketball Associationwarrnambool basketball, warrnambool netball, history of warrnambool

These are badges or pieces of insignia that would have been worn on the collar or cap of members of the Victorian Volunteer Corps. This organization was formed in Victoria in 1867 with the object of fostering in young men leadership, discipline, loyalty and initiative through training programs and community service. The Victorian Volunteer Corps was established in Warrnambool in 1868 and units were initially based at the Warrnambool State School and the Warrnambool Grammar School. Later groups were formed in other schools and competed against each other in rifle shooting competitions, marching and parade skills etc. The Warrnambool groups were trained and assisted by members of the local adult Volunteer Corps. Today cadet groups are sponsored by the Australian Army and there is revived interest in Warrnambool in school cadet groups. These insignia items have no known local provenance but are of historical interest as mementoes of the Volunteer Cadet Corps that operated in Warrnambool from the late 1860s through to the early 20th century. .1 This is a bronze-coloured metal badge with gold lettering, a crown on top, a cross with stars in the middle section and laurel leaves around the outer edges. The two clips at the back are for attachment of the badge to a collar or cap. .2 as above except that this badge has been damaged and somewhat flattened. Volunteer Cadet Corps Victoria Pro Deo et Patria volunteer cadet corps,, history of warrnambool

This badge was issued to a member of Australian Boy, probably about the 1950s, but no information has been found on this organization. What is known is that Warrnambool had a boys’ club in the 1950s and this group may have been part of a wider Australian organization. This badge has no known local provenance but is retained as a memento of the mid 20th century when Warrnambool had an active boys’ club. This is a round metal badge with red edging and an image of a boy, an aeroplane and a dog in blue and red with blue and red lettering set against a cream background. The badge is somewhat tarnished and rusted on the back.Australian Boy Club Memberwarrnambool boys’ club, boys’ club badge, history of warrnambool, badge

This tin came from the Sunshine Biscuit Factory in Ballarat. James Long established a confectionery business in Ballarat in 1854 and in 1921 it was known as the Sunshine Biscuit Company. In 1923 the factory was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. During World War Two 80% of the factory products went to the armed services. In 1947 the company was known as Ballarat Products Ltd and in 1962 it was called Sunshine Biscuits Ltd. In 1977 the factory was used to produce dry pet food (Friskies). The building was closed in 1991 and the site developed to include a supermarket, shops and housing. Up till about the late 1950s biscuits were mostly not packaged but sold loose by the pound in grocery stores from tins such as this. Broken biscuits were also sold at a cheaper price. Some biscuits were also sold at that time in smaller tins. This tin is of interest as an example of the tins from which biscuits were sold in the first half of the 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a rectangular-shaped biscuit tin which is much rusted. The tin has a multi-coloured paper label that has been pasted around the sides. Much of this label has been torn away. The label shows images of biscuits. There is printing on the label and on the bottom of the tin. ‘Sunshine Raspberry Smiles’ ‘Ballarat Products Ltd.’ ‘This tin is not sold with the contents thereof but remains the property of Sunshine Biscuit Co Ballarat’ ‘Made in Australia 054’ sunshine biscuit factory, ballarat, history of warrnambool

This kettle would have been used on top of a wood stove to boil water to make tea and other beverages and to use for other household purposes. It would have been a common household item in Australian homes from the beginning of European settlement up about the mid 20th century when wood stoves, although still in use in many country areas, were largely superseded by gas or electric stoves in most households. The kettle was made of durable material as it usually remained on the top of the stove for most of the day so that hot water was readily available. This kettle is retained as an example of an essential household item used in the past. It will be useful for display.This is a circular-shaped black iron kettle with a handle and a spout. The lid is circular. The kettle is rusting inside. vintage household items, history of warrnambool

This hat has the brand name or model, ‘The Solent’ which is the name of the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England. Boater hats such as these were mostly worn for informal occasions and were usually associated with sporting events such as boating and sailing, particularly in Britain. Hats of this type were also part of the school uniform of some Australian schools, usually prominent private schools with a British tradition, in the first half of the 20th century and there may be some schools still using the style today. This boater is of interest as an example of the informal head gear worn by men in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be useful for display.This is a cream straw boater hat with a flat circular crown and round brim. The straw is stiffened and plaited. There is a black material band ending with a black bow around the base of the crown. The hat has brown leather internal lining with a cream cord insert for altering the inside size of the hat. Inside the hat is a printed shield with the maker’s details and some gold ornamentation with printed material. The Criterion Brand Reg. No. 15094 The Solent Extra Quality Copyright. vintage headware, history of warrnambool

This helmet has been used by a member of the Royal Australian Navy in the early to mid 20th century. The Commonwealth Naval Forces were formed after Federation in 1901 and became known as the Royal Australian Navy in 1911. Pith helmets are now used only in the Australian Defence Forces for ceremonial purposes. No information is available on A.B. Pollock.This helmet is retained for display purposes.This helmet is made of white material with a six-segmented crown and a peak and back covering. In the centre of the crown is a dome with three breathing holes. On top of the dome is an ornamental gold-coloured metal finial. The edge of the crown has a band of white fabric and in the centre of this is a metal badge with a crown, anchor and seven stars and the wording ‘Royal Australian Navy’. Inside, the helmet has a leather rim with an adjustable leather string with brass clips (one missing). Inside, the breathing holes are made of brass and the metal rotates to open or close the holes. Inside also are the size of the helmet, the owner’s name and some other indecipherable information Royal Australian Navy A.B.Pollock 6⅞ vintage headwear, royal australian navy, history of warrnambool

This fire helmet may have been one used in England or one used in the late 19th century and early 20th century in Australia. It was made by Firmin & Sons of England, a firm which was founded in 1655. It supplies military ceremonial buttons, badges and uniforms and brass and pith helmets of various kinds. It is regarded as the oldest manufacturing business operating in England today. The Warrnambool Fire Brigade was established in the early 1860s and today has both paid and volunteer firefighters.This helmet has no known local provenance but is retained for display purposes.This is a brass helmet with an oval crown with an ornate scrolled curved piece coming over the crown. There is a decoration of a winged dragon breathing fire and on the front side a torch, an axe and a hose with decorative surrounds. There is a breathing hole at the top of the crown in a petal shape. On the sides are metal medallions holding a chin strap which is adjustable. The edge of the crown has a scrolled band. The front peak is angled with a folded metal edge and the rear peak is a concave shape with a brass screw in the middle. Inside the helmet are 8 screws holding the upper decorative arching piece and a black leather band with eyelets tied together to fir the individual head. There is an oval plaque with wording contained within a decorative belt.Firmin & Sons Ltd 108 & 109 St Martins Lane W.C. Late of 153 & 154 Strandwarrnambool fire brigade, history of warrnambool

This is a bowler hat, commonly worn by men in the second half of the 19th century for semi-formal and informal wear. The bowler hat was first made by the hatters, Thomas and William Bowler, in 1849 and was said to have been commissioned by the owners of Holkham Hall, England, for use by gamekeepers on horseback to protect their heads from low-hanging branches. In the 19th and early 20th centuries bowler hats were worn mainly by businessmen in Britain, U.S.A and Australia but were also popularized for general use by notable personalities and actors such as Charlie Chaplin. This hat has no known local provenance but is retained for display purposesThis is a black felt hat with a rounded crown and a ribbon around the crown. The rim is slightly turned up. There are breathing holes in the crown.men’s headgear from the past, history of warrnambool

Tourism has been an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years. In the late 19th century Warrnambool was promoted as a spa resort offering a mild climate, seaside swimming and hot and cold seawater baths. Today tourists come in winter to see the Southern Right whales at Logans Beach and in summer they come for a beach holiday. The Hopkins River is a popular recreation destination with boating, fishing and water skiing. The Proudfoots Boathouse was established in 1885 by Thomas Proudfoot. This cup is an interesting example of a Warrnambool tourist souvenir from the mid to late 20th century.This is a small white china cup. There is gold edging around the rim and on the handle. On the side of the cup is a coloured image of Proudfoots Boatsheds at the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool. Hopkins River Boatsheds Warrnambool Fine China Westminster China Australia tourism in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These spats appear to be part of an army uniform and may have been worn by a member of an Australian Lighthorse unit. The Victorian Mounted Rifles was established in 1885 by Colonel Tom Price who lived in his retirement years in Warrnambool. Many members of the G Company Mounted Rifles from Warrnambool and district enlisted in World War One and served with distinction in the Victorian Lighthorse units which evolved from the Mounted Rifles units. These spats are retained as they are possibly part of the uniform of an Australian Lighthorse soldier early in the 20th century and may have local provenance.These are two spats or leggings made of stiffened brown leather shaped to fit the lower calf of the leg. They have leather straps and metal buckles at the top end. australian lighthorse regiments, spats, history of warrnambool

This dictionary is a large tome containing a wealth of information current at the time of publication (1958). The Webster’s Dictionary is an American publication but it was known world-wide and would have been in many households in Australia in the mid 20th century. No information is available on A. M. Archibald (the signature in the front of the book)This book has no known local provenance but is retained as an example of an antiquarian item, a 60 year-old book.This is a large tome of 2129 pages, plus supplements of 160 pages. It has a faded dark green linen cover. The spine and the cover edges are damaged. The wording on the spine and cover are almost indecipherable. Inside the covers are images of a tree with branches representing Indo-European languages. The pages have alphabetical thumb tabs and these are double-sided with gold lettering. The pages contain black and white illustrations and coloured plates. The supplementary material includes coloured world maps, dictionaries of biography, geography and mythology and information on foreign words and phrases, abbreviations, Scripture and the history of Canada.A.M. Archibald Webster’s Dictionary antiquarian books, history of warrnambool

Box Brownie cameras were first produced early in the 20th century by the Eastman Kodak company in U.S.A. They were bought by amateur photographers and were very popular because they were easy to use and affordable for the average householder. The Brownie Flash 11 camera was produced by the Australian Kodak company in Melbourne from 1958 to 1963. 500,000 of these cameras were made during that time. This camera and case are retained as they are good examples of a box Brownie camera made in Australia in the late 1950s and early 1960s..1 This is a box camera with a metal body and a synthetic leatherette covering. It has a horizontally-striped front panel and two glass finders. It also has metal pin and screw flash contacts and a built-in close-up lens. It has a leatherette strap. .2 This is a light brown leather/latex case which is rectangular-shaped with a curved top, a metal catch and a shoulder strap with a metal buckle. The case contains a small booklet with information on how to use the camera. .1 Kodak Kodet lens Brownie Flash 11 Camera Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd Melbourne Australia Close Up .2 Made for Kodak (A/asia) Pty Ltd by Frank Carew & Co, Northcote, Vic Reprocessed leather/latex vintage cameras, history of warrnambool

This jar comes from the Sharpe Brothers Warrnambool factory. John Sharpe founded the soft drinks business in 1903 and it existed until 1972. At one stage the company had 35 factories in Australia and New Zealand. It specialized in the home deliveries of ginger beer and other brewed beverages in one gallon earthenware jars. The Warrnambool factory opened in 1919 at the site of the Rowley cordial factory at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. It continued until 1951. John H. Sharpe, the former manager of the Sydney factories, put his signature on the base of this jar when he visited the Warrnambool and District Historical Society headquarters at History House in the mid 1980s. This jar is of considerable importance as it is a fine memento of the Sharpe Bros soft drinks factory that operated in Warrnambool in the 20th century for over 30 years.This is a stone jar in beige/brown colouring with a cylindrical base with a bulbous-shaped piece above the base and a dome-shaped top above that. A metal handle is attached to the neck and there is a composite material screw top. The maker’s information is printed on both sides of the jar. Keep this stopper tight This jar is the absolute property of, and must be returned to, Sharpe Bros Australia & New Zealand Original and largest hygiene brewers Caution. Persons Damaging, Willfully Retaining, Trading with or Misappropriating the use of this jar WILL BE PROSECUTED John H. Sharpe. Jar made prior to 1914 sharpe bros factory, john h. sharpe, history of warrnambool

This book by Jack Gorman contains articles on horse racing in Australia, and in particular, Victoria and the Western District in the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes articles on the 1891 Melbourne Cup, the Casterton Centenary Cup of 1961, the champion horse ‘Waranton’, hunting in the Casterton district, the 1922 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool and many people associated with horse racing in the past. This book is retained as it contains articles on various horse races and people associated with horse racing of the past in the Western District of Victoria, including accounts of Warrnambool races. It will be a useful addition to our local history library. This is a soft cover book of 52 pages. The cover has brown and white colouring and has an image of the finish of a horse race and black printing. The pages contain printed material, black and white photographs and sketches. The book has been stapled but the staples have been removed.western district horse racing, grand annual steeplechase, history of warrnambool, casterton centenary cup, jack gorman

"Who would have thought that a boy born in 1889 from the Victorian Mallee would become a successful artist on New York’s Staten Island? This finely illustrated, exhaustively researched and beautifully written biography on Leason features the artist’s entire career as a painter and cartoonist renowned for his depictions of Australian society in the 1920s and 1930s. Leason’s story is a poignant one tracing his beginnings as a cartoonist, to the bohemian Melbourne art scene in the early 20th century, to his involvement in the artists’ camps of Eltham, to his important series of portraits of Lake Tyers Indigenous Australians, and his eventual move to the US where he has been acknowledged as making an enormous contribution to the New York arts scene. This story, as yet untold, fills a gap in the history of art in Australia and offers a new perspective on Australian art in the first half of the 20th century." - Thames and Hudson website A NEW HOME IN ELTHAM Once they had settled back into Melbourne, Perry and Belle began to look for a place to make a permanent home. Having enjoyed the bush setting of Mosman, they decided to explore the rural fringes of Melbourne. Each weekend they packed a picnic and travelled to the towns in the nearby hills - such as Ferntree Gully, Sassafras, Lilydale and, of course, Cockatoo Creek. Eventually deciding these places might be a little too far from The Herald office, they searched closer to the city. The Heidelberg and Box Hill regions that had inspired his old teacher McCubbin, had become busy, urban areas but further east, towards Warrandyte and Templestowe, there were still large tracts of bush. Finally they settled on Eltham, an area Percy knew very well, having often painted there with Jock Frater. Perry's old friend Dick McCann and his wife Margery had also settled in Eltham. The township was fifteen miles from Melbourne and serviced by an electric train that went to the central Melbourne station of Flinders Street, near where The Herald offices were located. Eltham was a small village in 1925, separated from Melbourne by the Yarra River, and surrounded by orchards and large tracts of bush. Small farms dotted the landscape and the main businesses revolved around ironmongers, blacksmiths, and farming supplies. Of particular appeal to artists was Eltham Park, a large expanse of bushland bounded by the Yarra River on the south side and the Diamond Creek on the east. The park included a playing field that was busy on weekends with cricket or football matches, but for the rest of the week it was mostly empty and an ideal place to paint. The scenery there provided the inspiration for many paintings by Leason, Meldrum and other artists such as Colin Colahan and Peter (A.E.) Newburv. The Leasons found a rundown old farmhouse on four-and-a-half acres of land in New Street, now known as Lavender Park Road. The site was splendid, at the top of a gentle slope which gave panoramic views east to the Dandenong hills, south over the Templestowe orchards and north to Kinglake. The front lawn was taken over by onion grass (or wiregrass as Leason called it) and scattered about the property were many wattles and gum trees. Aloe cacti covered much to the front of the house, while old quince and lucerne hedges separated the house and out-buildings from a rundown apple orchard. Here they would build a new home. ·with financial assistance from The Herald, Leason bought the property and immediately commissioned an architectural firm to design a new house in the popular bungalow style of the time. The old farm house was demolished but Percy saved the siding boards, bricks and corrugated iron for the outbuildings of his new home. The new house was a two storey, triple brick with a large, gabled, terracotta tiled roof. It was situated at the very top of the slope. The paint and varnish were barely dry when the family moved in during the summer of 1925-26 and the fumes were overpowering in the heat. Despite the house being wired for electricity, power poles had not yet reached the area and initially the family had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles. When electricity did arrive, Leason reflected on the community's reception of electricity at the expense of the old growth gum tree corridors in his cartoon, Electricity comes to Wiregrass. The family had now grown to seven. Jack was nearly nine, Jean was seven, Marjory was four, Nancy was two and the baby Patricia was seven months old. Jack and Jean were enrolled in the local primary school down the hill. A retired farmer, Jock McMillan, came to live on the property and help out with the general maintenance. Jock built himself a shack and Belle provided him with meals. He was kept occupied building structures around the property·, such as the garage, the outside toilet, garden beds, trellis arbours and a number of ponds. The elderly, bearded Scotsman with his old hat and baggy pants also provided the inspiration for one of the characters Leason regularly included in his cartoons. Like Leason, Jock smoked a straight stemmed pipe. A neighbour was employed to help Belle with domestic chores, and so the family settled down to live comfortably in their new Eltham house. Two dogs, Maginary and Wodger, completed the large and vibrant household. “Percy Leason; an artist’s life” by Margot Tasca, Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne 2016, pp 63-64 Hardback Bookpercy leason, margot tasca, biography, artist, landscape

ISBN 0642 4148 58Softcover book with black and white front cover with stylised barbed wire across centre. 70 pages with black and white photos."Donated by Bgo YMCA"books, military history, prisoners