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 Magic Carpet Author: S Elliot Napier Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1932Label on spine with typed text R.A. 824.912 NAP Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book, the magic carpet, s elliot napier, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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

Compiled from articles submitted by member societies of the Association [regional] Historical Societies. A collection of stories about holidays, camping, picnics, sporting carnivals and more. How people enjoyed their leisure time n the early 1900's. Empire Day train services to Surrey Hills 24th May 1907 by Jack McLean is of particular local interest on page 23.A collection of stories about holidays, camping, picnics, sporting carnivals and more. How people enjoyed their leisure time n the early 1900's. Empire Day train services to Surrey Hills 24th May 1907 by Jack McLean is of particular local interest on page 23.scouts, doncaster, empire day, surrey hills, 1907, (mr) jack mclean, trains, box hill, sports and recreations

Used as an illustration in, "Green Grows Our Garden, A.P. Winzenried p21. The caption reads, "Students in the garden. Iron-tyred wheelbarrows made at Pentridge Prison, were used at Burnley until the 1940's." 50 foot circular bed on right. 2 copies of a black and white photograph, original in Burnley Campus Rare Books Collection. 4 students working in the Ornamental Garden near the Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). One holding a watering can and one holding a wooden wheelbarrow.On reverse of 1 copy, "Burnley Gardens c 1890's The trees are still in Burnley Gardens." On reverse of other copy, "from Prize Essays" B91.457 A.E. Bennett a group following p116." green grows our garden, a.p. winzenried, pentridge prison, iron-tyred wheelbarrows, 50 foot circular bed, students working outside, wheelbarrow, watering can, californiann redwood, sequoia sempervirans, ornamental garden

Elizabeth Goodenough came to Australia aged 16/17 having paid 5 pounds to the government to secure a paid position in the colony of NSW. Within a year of arrival she had married Richard Phillips whose 1st wife had died in childbirth, leaving behind a 4 year old son. Richard was a coach plater by trade and was a publican in Sydney and Geelong. One of Elizabeth's daughters Emma Eliza Jane, married Thomas Watson in Ballarat.Portrait of a young woman, circa 1840's. Sepia photograph.verso - Stewart & Co. Probably Elizabeth Phillips b Goodenoughelizabeth goodenough, elizabeth anne phiilips, emma eliza jane phillips, emma eliza jane watson, richard phillips

Henry Sutton is a talented world-wide accepted inventor with inventions relating to the telephone, photography, wireless, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles as well as many more inventions. Henry was also one of four brothers that ran the Sutton's Music Store after the death of their Father Richard Sutton. Henry Sutton taught Applied Electricity at the Ballarat School of Mines in 1883 to 1886.Chart hand written on paper for Atomisers for cars in 1920'satomiser chart, henry sutton, dodge, buick, chevrolet, studibaker, bentleigh

Australian flag, Aus Cam background, o/s service.badge/buttons, 1990's

Pacific Star, War Medal NX194082 S W Gavenlockmedals, ww2, army

Negative of New Chum Hill - looking south in 1870'stopic, mining, new chum

A book by K. S. Kings on Bendigo tramways. 80 pages.person, individual, basil miller

Cololur photo of students Grade 1 - 2 S, 1996.education, primary, bendigo north primary school 1267.

Eighteen sympathy cards.To S. A. Bush on the death of his wife.person, individual, bush collection - personal

PHOTOGRAPH S OF CATALOGUIG AT CLUNES TOWN HAL & COURT HOUSE.local history, photography, photographs,

Assumed to be a plan of the drainage at The Lodge farmIndication of land levels c1970Professionally drawn plan of drainage scheme for J. S. Irvine.the lodge farm, drainage plan, j. s. irvine

Finish of s Print race at Central Park during easter

Wednesday 8th November 1978Male in s suit looking down to the side at opening the mallgold reef mall

White cotton hand towel with green strips and 'S' embroidered on it.manchester, bath linen

A small cottage at 22 Lyons St S, Ballarat Central. cottage, ballarat, lyons street