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. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. 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. In Wild New Britain Edited by Wallace Deane Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1933 Further Information: The story of Benjamin Danks pioneer missionary from his dairyThe label on spine cover with typed text R.H. 267.7 DAN Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service flagstaff 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 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, in wild new britain, wallace deane, benjamin danks

Handwritten list of names and numbers. The names are: Goyne, Greaves Ham, Ross, Strangham, Stevenson, ?, Wedd?, Watson, B?, Neill, Cromley, Spencer, Taylor, Capell, Bec?pale, Shannon, Morton, J. Levy, Tennant, Jones, Ronalos, Brown, Benjamin, B?aol?, Lloyd, Yellan?, Bro?oo?, Featherston, Fergusson and Reddich,business, stockbroker, kelly & allsop, kelly and allsop collection - list of names, goyne, greaves ham, ross, strangham, stevenson, ?, wedd?, watson, b?, neill, cromley, spencer, taylor, capell, bec?pale, shannon, morton, j. levy, tennant, jones, ronalos, brown, benjamin, b?aol?, lloyd, yellan?, bro?oo?, featherston, fergusson, reddich

Document prepared by the Electric Supply Co of Victoria, as part of an order under the Electric Light and Power Act 1896, section 5 of order No. 17 granted to company. Dated 19/2/1901 and signed by the Postmaster-General. Shows the order area being parts of the City of Ballaarat, Sebastopol and Ballarat East. Shows the street names, boundaries, principal power line routes, land reserves, parks, mine locations, railways and Lake Wendouree. Signed by R L Williams Town Clerk City of Ballarat, J R Hall for the Borough of Sebastopol, and John Gent for the Town of Ballarat EastYields information about the power supply to the Ballarat area.Cloth backed paper map, coloured and marked up as exhibit 17.Notes in ink including the signature of Benjamin Deakin 24/9/00 and certified by the three involved municipal Town Clerks.ballarat power supply, esco, electric supply co of victoria, city of ballaarat, east ballarat, sebastopol, orders, power lines, power supply

The 1852 owner was Benjamin O'Wallis who died in 1896Photocopy of a photograph of C. Watson's Eltham Hotel, cnr. Main Road and Pitt Street, Elthamhotels, eltham, c watson, main road, pitt street, benjamin o'wallis

RAILWAYS COLLECTION colour photo of a white Memorial stone for Blanche Lois Hoskins, John Langley and Benjamin Burston senior scholars of St Paul's Sunday School who died at Mcivor Rd in a Railway accident on 1.1.1900.photograph

Photocopy of an 1871 Bendigo Advertiser article - 'Killed by falling down a Shaft '- re: Miner Benjamin Tripp aged 41 years fell down a shaft belonging to the Mystery Company - two copies of the article on one pagenewspaper, bendigo advertiser, mining reports, miner benjamin tripp / the mystery gold mining company

Booklet - Celebrating 120 years of business (1885-2005) in Bendigo: Bolton's (Office National) 42 pp.with family/firm history along with advertising and product information. Benjamin Bolton, William Bolton, Arthur Bolton. Location:The Advertiserbendigo, business, bolton & sons, bolton & sons, bolton bros printers, william bolton, arthur bolton, benjamin bolton. bolton's

Black and white photograph of Benjamin Gould a sympathiser of the Kelly Gang. Photograph is in an oval frame and shows a man with a long bushy beard wearing a jacket facing right. Man is wearing a jacket buttoned up with light coloured neck tie.benjamin gould, kelly sympathiser, kelly gang, edward kelly, ned kelly

Following the South African campaign 1899-1902, King Edward VII presented Banners to Australian regiments and corps which were represented in South Africa. The Banner presented to the 8th Light Horse is now on display at the history Room of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Simpson Barracks Melbourne.Provides linking information between other significant objects in the collection.Photocopy of letter to Sergeant Walter Edward Payne 8th Australian Light Horse (VMR) from the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel William Benjamin Pleasents inviting him to be one of the representatives to the review of the King's Banners on 14 November 1904.letter, payne w e, pleasents w b, king's banner

The Story of Benjamin and Mary Ann Wilkins and their Descendants by Susan Estelle Smith, resarched by Ronda Whitten, Greame Thorpe, Lindsay Smith, Sue Smith and Margaret de Jager and edited by Ronda Whitten, Graeme Thorpe, Lindsay Smith and Sue Smith.

Part of Tim Shambrook's Collection for 'This is Vermont'. P.30.Black and white photo of 1st Vermont Scout Troop Members and Leader in 1930. Mr Lewis Scoutmaster. Second left back row is John Darcy: third left middle is Ronald Darcy: end of right middle sitting is Benjamin Darcy.vermont scouts, 1st scout group, shambrook, tim, lewis mr., darcy john, darcy ronald, darcy benjamin

Copy of Certificate of marriage dated 5th April 1902 at Wesleyan Methodist Church Golden Square (reg No37 ) and by licence between Benjamin White, bachelor age 22 years residing on Maple St Golden Square, born at Golden Square and Emily Davies Moyle, Spinster 18 years of Hayes St Ironbark, born at Ironbark. Benjamin's parents named as Richard and Nancie White, Emily's as Peter and Catherine Vivian Moyle. Witnessed by John Medlin and Elizabeth Annie Moyle. Profession of both Messrs White are Miners. Minister named as William Shaw, Wesleyan Methodist Minister.fra marperson, bendigo, certificate of marriage, white, benjamin & emily (nee moyle), marriage, certificate

Benjamin Thomas Roy Chadd No's 10594, VX20311, 1st and 2nd AIF. Refer 2039 for service history.B/W photo of 2 Officers at Boredaba Village WWII. Left: Lt Col Anderson. Right: Lt Col Chadd. Frame is a simple wooden type, black paint.photography-photographs, frame accessories, military

Receipts for rates payable to the Heidelberg and Eltham Railway Construction Trust, 1916. Owners are Benjamin Partington and William Partington.Copy of receiptswilliam james partington, benjamin partington, heidelberg and eltham railway construction trust, hurstbridge rail line

This 1890 document contains the will and probate papers of Benjamin Charles Jewell who died in 1889. English-born Benjamin Jewell was a Warrnambool stonemason who was the licensee of the Steam Packet Hotel (later Lady Bay Hotel) from 1883 to 1889. His executors were Christopher Beattie, a Warrnambool undertaker and James Tallent, manager of the Warrnambool Corporation Yards. Benjamin Jewell left his estate of property, household furniture and cattle to his wife, Ellen Jewell. The solicitor, Ernest Chambers, had his office in Kepler Street with Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk, managing this office. Tait collection: item 9 of 62This document is of interest because of its contents - the will and probate of Benjamin Jewell, a Warrnambool businessman of note in the 19th century - and because of its lawyer, Ernest Chambers, also well-known in Warrnambool at that time. This is a piece of parchment folded in two with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a blue ribbon. The writing in handwritten in brown ink. One page is blank. There is some pencil writing at the top left hand corner. Apart from some discolouration the document is in good condition.‘13/9 E.J.W. Chambers, 7241’benjamin jewell, ernest chambers

Biographical information about members of the Starling family: John Henry Starling, Benjamin Alfred Starling and Eva Jean Starling.Family lived in Greensborough2 pages, typescript.starling family, john henry starling, benjamin alfred starling, eva jean starling

Benjamin Thomas Taylor, a resident of Eltham, was a Civil and Mechanical Engineer (CME). He was a Councillor for the Central Riding 1970-1972This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image only (no print or negative)sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, cr. b.t. taylor, benjamin thomas taylor, central riding