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 November1884 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 fund raising 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 court house 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 historic 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 Historic 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 art works 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. Log-Letters from The Challenger Author: Lord George Campbell Publisher: MacMillan and Co Date: 1880Label on spine cover with typed text RH 910.45 CAM Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Inside of front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, log-letters from the challenger, lord george campbell

Arnold Street Methodist Church Bendigo. Challenge to Stewardship 1956. 12 pages, Cambridge Press. With Index.church, arnold street methodist church, church, methodist, arnold street methodist church.

Round wooden slab, bark on, polished on 1/2 slab base. Nine small gold shields 2003 - 2008 (6) inscribed with Churchill Island Working Horse Festivals Sheep to Shawl competition team winners. Rectangular gold with black lettering: "CHURCHILL ISLAND SHEEP TO SHAWL CHALLENGE" at base.CHURCHILL ISLAND/SHEEP TO SHAWL/CHALLENGE [Bottom plaque] 2003/?/?/CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR [top shield] 2007/CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR/ANN DAVIES [middle shield] 2004/?/? CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR [top right shield] 2005/CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR/ANN DAVIES [shield at right] 2006/CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR/ANN DAVIES [bottom right shield] 2008/CAROL FARR/BERYL FARR/ANN DAVIES [bottom shield] churchill island, working horse festival, sheep to shawl challenge, shearing, spinning, knitting

Program: 1991 Supertennis Challenge, 'Clash of the Champs'. Singapore, September 1991. 40 pages. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

This item was donated to the Bendigo Tramways Depot Archives by the author, Robert GreenThis is a history of the first electric tramway in Australia.The history of the first electric tramway in Australia, and the southern hemisphere, examining the conflicts and challenges faced by all those involved.

2 matched brass shell cases made into vases for use as bowls trophiesWaverley RSL Lawn Bowls Section Challenge Trophy 6Pr 1934

Part of a collection of three blankets donated by Emily McNeight.Pink, blue and cream chequered blanket with aqua blue edging.label: Challenge / LAMBSWOOL / SUPER GRADE BLANKET / pure new woolwool, blankets, challenge woollen mills

Black and white photograph, 1 man, photograph of a man called Jason Day who is pictured doing repairs to his boat for the next challenge. Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo: 16/8/93 DH/2j Rowier Jason Day repairs his boat for the next challengeRowierrecreations, sports, awards, jason day.

Presented to the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment RAAC by its affiliated regiment the 8th Royal Irish Hussars as part of a gift of regimental property when a reorganisation of British cavalry regiments was being undertaken.Silver rose bowl mounted on black shellacked wooden base. Bowl is oval in plan view and boat-shaped in elevation with human figurines as handles. Designation of the bowl as the Subalterns Challenge Cup inscribed on side of bowl while winners are inscribed on wooden base.On side of bowl: "Subalterns Challenge Cup Presented to Lieut.Col. Davidson and the Officers 8th Hussara by major C G Poley on leaving the Regiment May 1893" and on base: "Won at Wetherby 1896 Lt O'Brien br:g "Baccarat" Owner Won at Wetherby 1897 Lt F J C Howard's b.m Moonshine aged Owner 12st 3lb Won at Fethard 1898 Lt E A O'Brien br.g Baccarat Owner 12st 3lb Won at Mullaboden 1899 Lt E M Jennings b.g May Boy Owner 12st 3lb Won at Aldershot 1904 Lt H F Partridge's b.g Loch Lomond aged Owner 12st.3lb"8th hussars, rose bowl, regimental silver, horse racing, subalterns challenge cup

Ringwood Mail newspaper clippings - Centres face subsidy challenge and Child care closed, by Faye Michelson - March 1997

A group of members of the Old Colonists' Association, Ballarat during the annual bowls challenge against the Melbourne Old Colonists' Club. old colonists' association ballarat, bowls

A Slazenger 'Challenger No.1' racquet with clear vinyl net strings. Materials: Wood, Plastic, Leather, Adhesive tape, Nylontennis

Pair of Nike Air Tech Challenge IV tennis shoes, both signed in blue marker by Jimmy Connors. Materials: Rubber, Leathertennis

Tennis racquet. Slazenger brand, Challenge model. Wood, with gut strings. Leather covered grip. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Paint, Leathertennis

White folder given to new parents and students to give them introductory information about the school with green and yellow diagonal stripes and a colour image of WSC students in the centre of the cover page. A small WSC symbol is at the top, with green text reading:INTRODUCING WANGARATTA SECONDARY COLLEGE "Preparing todays students for tomorrows challenges" the VCE and beyond

White folder given to new parents and students to give them introductory information about the school with green and yellow diagonal stripes and a colour image of WSC students in the centre of the cover page. There is green text reading:INTRODUCING WANGARATTA SECONDARY COLLEGE "Preparing today's students for tomorrow's challenges" The VCE and beyond

Reproduction image of match play during 1954 Davis Cup Challenge Round . Caption reads: "1954 Davis Cup Challenge Round...USA def. Australia 3-2...White City-New South Wales...before a world record crowd of 25,578". Mounted on heavy board and within a cardboard frame mount. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

An unstrung Wright and Ditson 'Challenge Cup' tennis racquet, with: bevelled crown; string whipping around shoulders; and, fine-grooved, thick octagonal handle. Decal inscription along throat on obverse: CHALLENGE CUP. Wright & Ditson cursive logo features along throat on reverse. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Paint, Ink, Leather, Gut, Stringtennis

Programme for 1948 Davis Cup Challenge Round, held West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, Long Island. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A Slazenger 'Challenger No.1' racquet. Net consists of clear vinyl and black string. Materials: Wood, Plastic, Leather, Adhesive tape, Nylon, Stringtennis

Pages 33-35 of The Sportsman (Sept. 1928), featuring an article by A. Wallis Myers, entitled: FRANCE RESISTS AMERICA'S CHALLENGE. Materials: Paper, Inktennis