This so-called Hickford medal was a medal struck in 1897 by the Town of Warrnambool (bearing Walter Hickford’s name as the Mayor at the time) to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria. Walter John Hickford was Mayor of Warrnambool 1895-6-7 and President of the Committee that organized the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. A skilled decorative artist, Hickford carried out art work in many private houses, business and churches in Warrnambool. His shop in Liebig Street supplied paint materials for households, businesses and artists. Hickford Parade is named after him. The 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign was celebrated widely throughout Australia and the British Empire. This medal is one of several owned by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. It is of some importance as it shows the extent to which civic authorities and individuals in places like Warrnambool were concerned with all things British and the influence of the British monarchy in Australian affairs in the late 19th century. It also shows the importance attached at the time to the position of Mayor, with his name being inscribed on the medal.This is a medal, possibly bronze, with the logo of the Town of Warrnambool on one side and two images of Queen Victoria on the other. Side one: Town of Warrnambool, W.J.Hickford, Mayor Side two: 1837-1897, Queen Victoria’s 60th Year of Reign queen victoria, town of warrnambool walter hickford

John Ward came to the Warrnambool district in 1853. He established a grocery business on the corner of Jamieson Street and Canterbury Road, known as Ward's corner and later Rust's corner.He was three times Mayor of Warrnambool and was an important early historian. He compiled a history,completed in 1928, of the Warrnambool Methodist church. This DVD is a digital record of that history.This DVD featuring the history of the Warrnambool Methodist church is retained as a comprehensive history of one of Warrnambool's churches. Further, John Ward was a foremost historian in this district A DVD with a photograph on one side, black printing and black hand writing. It is enclosed in a plastic sleeve.The Diaries of John Ward john ward, diaries, warrnambool

They are the handwritten history of Methodism in Warrnambool (produced in the 1930s?) by John Ward, and early settler, North Warrnambool shopkeeper and an ex-councillor and mayor. The books contain over 100 original photographs of people connected to the Methodist Church, both clerical and lay, including women, and other Warrnambool photographs. There is also much written material on all the people connected to the church. The books were given to Warrnambool & District Historical Society Inc in March 2013 by the Uniting Church together with DVD with a digital copy of the photographs and a typed copy of the writings. [Elizabeth O'Callaghan, March 2013]Exercise books: History of Methodism in Warrnambool by John Ward Cat No: WARR These two black exercise books are most precious as they are of high historical significance. They provide an insight into the social and spiritual history of the methodists in Warrnambool Vol 1: 265pp Vol 2: 180pphistory of methodism in warrnambool, john ward

This cookery book was produced in 2014 as a school fundraiser. It was purchased at Allansford Cheese World in January 2015 for $15. Allansford school was established as a National School in 1856 on land reserved for the purpose by John McMahon Allan. It comprised two sandstone classrooms -one for boys and one for girls -with an attached pise teacher's residence. In 1872 when the Victorian Education Department was set up existing schools were listed in alphabetical order and given a number. Allansford State School was No.3. The school was enlarged in the late 1800s and again in the early 1920s. In 1994 following the amalgamation of the Allansford, Allans Forest and Naringal schools a new school was built which adjoined the existing buildings. The old buildings were refurbished as administration and staff facilities. John McMahon Allan settled in the area in 1839 with his brother William Osborne Allan. They were the sons of David Allan, Deputy Commissary General during Macquarie's term of government. The brothers divided the station with William retaining the Allandale portion and John naming his portion Tooram. John McMahon Allan was president of the early district Roads Board. In an attempt to recoup some of the heavy losses due to the disastrous Bateman fire of 1854 John subdivided a portion of Tooram at the Hopkins River crossing known as Allans ford. A school reserve was included in this subdivision. Source: McLeod, Graeme & Barbara. Allansford 1855-2006This book has social and historical interest and significance as it is connected to a local school. It provides a snapshot of food and cooking methods in the early 21st cebturyCookery book with full colour cover featuring 8 photographs and drawings of the Allansford Primary School surrounds and pupil activities on. The images are 'stitched' together with a white zig-zag diamond pattern as if a quilt. The foldout cover has an image of the school's centenary memorial gates and a brief history of the school. Inside the foldout are images of the pupils in each of the school's four team houses. The foldout back cover has full colour images of pupils performing at the school concert. A white strip noting 'our values' is included on the inside back cover foldout. Soft cover, 112 pages.allansford school, a ton of class, allansford primary school, a ton of class recipe book

This notebook was produced for the business of Cramond and Stark of Toowoomba. John Cramond and James Dickson established a drapery, clothing and general store in Warrnambool in 1855 and this business was a dominant one in Warrnambool until its closure in 1973. A relative of John Cramond opened the drapery store of Cramond and Stark in Toowoomba, Queensland later in the 19th century and this was also a large and long-running business.This notebook is of some interest as it is connected to a business in Queensland which had its origins in Warrnambool as one of the founding partners of this business came from Warrnambool (Cramond). It is also of interest as an example of the rather elaborate advertising ploys used in the early 20th century times – the metal notebook would have been rather expensive to produce and would probably have been given away to regular customers. This is a notebook with a pad of white paper and a cardboard backing attached to a metal container. There are a silver-coloured metal back and a metal front with a hinged lid and a 1911 calendar on the back of the lid. The inscription on the front is set in an embossed edging with a circular pattern in the middle of the lid. Front of lid: ‘Notes, Cramond & Stark for Drapery Hosiery & Gloves, Clothing, Mercery & Hats, Ruthven Street, Toowoomba’cramond & dickson, cramond & stark, warrnambool

This cask bung came from the brewery of Sheldrick and Co. The New Brewery (Warrnambool), founded by Walter Sheldrick and Thomas Price as partners in a company, was situated at the corner of Timor and Fairy Streets. It was known as Sheldrick and Co. and operated from 1868 to 1922 with John McGee and Company running the business after 1894. In 1922 the business was sold to Ballarat, Melbourne Co-operative and Carlton and United Breweries. The casks, used for wine and spirits, were in 1892 cleaned by steam and a lifting device was used to transport the casks from the cellars to the delivery wagons. This is a most significant item as one with a clear provenance and used in the brewery business of Sheldrick and Co., a major industry in Warrnambool in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is an example of the equipment use in the brewery business more than a 100 years ago. This is circular cask bung or stopper with the outer shell made of brass and the stopper insert made of cork. There is a screw thread on the metal. Both the brass and the cork are slightly worn.Inscribed on the metal:‘Sheldrick & Co. Warrnambool’sheldrick and co., sheldrick’s brewery

This is the probate and will of John Hannon of the Anakies. John Hannon died in March 1874. Anakie is a small town between Geelong and Bacchus Marsh and the Anakies are three small hills in the nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park. Nothing is known of John Bannon except for the details in the will and probate. He was unable to read and write, signing his will with a cross and he was a small handholder having property valued at under £300. He left his estate to his wife Johanna and her family. The probate document is signed by R.W. Pohlman, Acting Master in EquityThis document is only of interest in that it came from a local Warrnambool legal office in Kepler Street. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of the legal firm of Mackay Taylor. The document came the buildings that previously housed the firm of Mackay Taylor. This is a piece of parchment folded in two and joined at the fold by a piece of green ribbon to which is attached a government seal (Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria). The parchment is much discoloured and the seal is torn. The contents are handwritten in black ink. ‘Probate on the will of John Hannon, late of the Anakies, in the colony of Victoria, Farmer, deceased’john bannon, anakies, warrnambool

No information has been found on the Commission Agent John Fitts except that he died at the Yarra Bend Asylum at the age of 51 and was formerly a resident of Ascot Vale, a suburb of Melbourne. His estate was valued at £600. Yarra Bend Asylum, near the junction of the Yarra River and the Merri Creek was the first institution for the mentally ill in Victoria and operated from 1848 to 1925. Tait collection: item 5 of 62This document is only of interest in that it came from the former legal offices of Mackay Taylor in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of the lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of Mackay Taylor where it remained until the firm of Mackay Taylor ceased to exist and the buildings were cleaned out. This is a piece of parchment paper with printed black lines and handwritten material in black ink. There is a fold at the bottom of the document with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a green ribbon. The document is slightly discoloured but is otherwise in good condition. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, Probate jurisdiction, In the Estate of John Fitts, late of the Yarra Bend Asylum, formerly of Ascot Vale in the Colony of Victoria, commission agent, deceased intestate, Administration, Edwards and Perry, Proctors’yarra bend asylum, john fitts, warrnambool

This 1891 document contains the information on the Will and Probate of John Gould, an engineer from Russells Creek. No information has been found on John Gould except that he died in October 1890 at the age of 67. The solicitor, William Ardlie was a well-known Warrnambool lawyer, commencing a practice in 1865 and continuing well into the 20th century making him at the time one of the longest-serving lawyers in the British Empire. Tait collection: item 10 of 62This document is of interest in that it includes information on a resident of Russells Creek in the Warrnambool area, and also the lawyer concerned is William Ardlie, one of the best-known identities in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This is an 1891 piece of parchment folded in half to give four pages of written material. This material is handwritten in black ink. A seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon. The document is somewhat discoloured. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in the probate jurisdiction in the Will of John Gould, late of Russells Creek near Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Engineer, deceased, Probate. I certify that there is no duty payable. J. F. Poole, Officer under Section 96, Act 1060, June 23rd 1891. Extracted by William Ardlie, Solicitor, Warrnambool’. john gould, william ardlie, warrnambool

This is an 1896 document containing the Letters of Administration following the death of Margaret Lord, a widow from Warrnambool. She died intestate in April 1896 and left real estate to the value of £15 and personal estate to the value of £250. The estate was to be administered by her son, John Lord, a draper from Warrnambool. Tait collection: item 13 of 62This document is of interest because it concerns a local Warrnambool woman, Margaret Lord and a local lawyer, Ernest Chambers The latter had offices in Warrnambool with the known dates 1896 to 1910, with other offices in Koroit and Port Fairy during the same period. His manager in Warrnambool was Thomas Goodall and this document with others was passed to lawyers occupying the same premises in Kepler Street and it was found in the buildings previously occupied by the legal firm Mackay Taylor.This is a piece of parchment paper folded in two with writing in brown-coloured ink on the back and front of the document. It has a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria and one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The writing is somewhat faded but still legible.‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, In the Probate Jurisdiction in the Estate of Margaret Lord, Late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Widow, deceased, intestate, Letters of Administration. I certify that there is no duty payable on the within Letters of Administration, J. Poole, Officer Under Section 96 Act 1060, Dated the 22nd day of July 1896. E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’ margaret lord, ernest chambers, warrnambool

This document contains the Probate Papers following the death of Richard Bright, a Warrnambool stonemason who died in August 1897. No other information has been found on Richard Bright but he must have been a successful tradesman as he left real estate to the value of £680 and personal estate to the value of £94. His executors were his son, Daniel Bright of Terang and the law clerk, Thomas Goodall. Richard Bright left a number of properties to his wife, Elizabeth, his sons, Daniel and John and his daughters, Adelaide Scown and Martha Head. This document was in the possession of Thomas Goodall , a law clerk managing the Ernest Chambers legal offices in Warrnambool and it was eventually passed on to the law firms operating from the same premises in Kepler Street. It was handed to the Historical Society when it was found in the premises once occupied by the law firm of Mackay Taylor. Tait collection: item 14 of 62This document is of interest as it originally was drawn up by a local lawyer. Ernest Chambers, and the probate papers are for a local Warrnambool resident, Richard Bright. This is a piece of parchment paper, folded in two, with handwriting on all pages. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. There are ruled black lines on three pages and pencilled writing in the margin of the first page. Some of the writing is a little faded. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Richard Bright, late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Mason, deceased. Probate. I certify that no duty is payable herewith. J. Poole, Officer under Sec. 96, Act 1060, 16/11/97. E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’ernest chambers, thomas goodall richard bright, richard bright, tait collection

Tait collection: item 20 of 62 This 1900 document gives details on the Will and Probate of William Bickle, described as a ‘Gentleman’, who died in April 1900. He left real estate to the value of £240 and personal estate to the value of £286. His wife Jane received the income from these assets during her lifetime and on her death the estate went to Bickle’s nephew and niece. The executors were John Warren, a painter of Jamieson Street, Warrnambool and Thomas Goodall, a law clerk of Warrnambool. No other details are available on William Bickle. Thomas Goodall was the manager of the law office of Ernest Chambers in Warrnambool. Chambers had offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document is of interest because it contains information on the Will and Probate of William Bickle, a Warrnambool resident at the time of his death. The document was in the possession of the lawyer, Ernest Chambers and has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street building. It was then passed on in 2014 to be part of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society collection.This is a 1900 piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. The seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there are two stamps, one a red one of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court, Melbourne and the other a blue one of the Savings Bank, Warrnambool. The handwriting is highly legible.william bickle, ernest chambers, tait collection, john warren

Tait collection: item 23 of 62 This paper contains details of the Will and Probate papers of John Joseph Flahavin who died in December 1902. He was a farmer at Kirkstall but no further details on him have been found. He left real estate to the value of £100 and personal estate to the value of £5 to his wife Margaret Flahavin. She died in the June of the following year before her husband’s will had been finalized. The lawyer in the case, Ernest Chambers, had legal offices in Warrnambool. Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document in his possession passed to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and were located there in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of some interest as it concerns a Kirkstall resident in the early 1900s. It will be useful to researchers.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two (1903). It has handwritten material on three sides of the paper. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and there are three purple stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The paper is somewhat stained and the writing is faded but legible. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of John Joseph Flahavin late of Kirkstall in the State of Victoria Farmer deceasedjohn flahavin, ernest chambers, warrnambool, kirkstall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 31 of 62 This document contains details of the Will and Probate of Frederick John Jones, a farmer of Nirranda who died in October 1910. He left real estate to the value of £200 and personal estate to the value of £43. The beneficiaries were his daughter Harriet Jones, his son Frederick Augustus Jones and his grandson, Claude Eagle. No other information has been found on Frederick Jones, Senior. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and located in 2014 in the same building, the former offices of Mackay Taylor. It was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment folded in two containing handwritten material on the Probate of Frederick Jones of Nirranda, 1911. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat discoloured.In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Frederick John Jones late of Nirranda in the County of Heytesbury in the State of Victoria farmer deceased frederick jones, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 43 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a farmer from Bushfield, who died in July 1897. He died intestate but had real estate to the value of £510 and personal estate to the value of £142. The beneficiary was his wife, Mary Ann Moloney. The lawyer involved in drawing up this document was William Ardlie, one of the best-known lawyers in Warrnambool in the 19th and 20th centuries. He commenced his business in the 1860s and continued on until the 1930s when he was well in his eighties, making him at the time the oldest practising lawyer in Australasia. The document seemed to have been passed down by successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street legal premises and located there in 2014.This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a 19th century farmer from Bushfield and it also concerns the lawyer, William Ardlie, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer at that time. It will be useful for researchers.This is a piece of cream-coloured thin parchment paper folded in two. It has handwritten material on two pages (black ink) containing details of the Letters of Administration following the death of John Moloney of Bushfield in 1897. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat dirty but quite legible. The numbers ‘255’ and ‘14’ are written in blue pencil on the back page. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Estate of John Moloney late of Bushfield in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceased Intestatejohn moloney, warrnambool, william ardlie, bushfield, tait collection

These are three volumes of Peloubet’s Select Notes. The book contents are described as ‘Inductive, Suggestive, Explanatory, Illustrative, Doctrinal and Practical’. The books were issued as curriculum material for Sunday Schools and were first published in the mid 1870s and continued to be published for the next 100 years. These three volumes belonged to M. P. McMeekin and this is presumed to be Margaret Parker McMeekin (1868-1948), the daughter of John McMeekin and Isabella Parker of Warrnambool. John McMeekin was the Rate Collector and Inspector and then the Valuer for the Warrnambool Shire in the 1860s, 70s and 80s. Two sons, William and James, operated a produce export business in Kepler Street under the name of McMeekin Brothers and another son, Charles was an auctioneer in Warrnambool. It is surmised that Margaret McMeekin was a Sunday School teacher either in Warrnambool or Port Fairy. These books are of interest as examples of what was taught in Sunday Schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are also of interest because they belonged to Margaret McMeekin, a member of a prominent family in Warrnambool at that time. These are three books of a religious nature written by F. and M. Peloubet and published in 1895, 1898 and 1904. .1 A hard cover book of 346 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnmbool & District Historical Society and a handwritten name are on the first page .2 A hard cover book of 344 pages with a brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society are on the first and last page. The cover has worn edges. .3 A hard cover book of 358 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the first and last page. There is a black and white full page plate at the beginning of the book and this is protected by a piece of tissue. ‘M.P. McMeekin, Port Fairy’ (1895 volume) sunday schools, margaret mcmeekin, warrnambool history

This is a novel written by Ethel Patricia Stonehouse under the name of Lindsay Russell. She was born in Nhill in 1883 and was educated at Charlton State School. From 1894 on she wrote verse and short stories and worked as a journalist in Melbourne. She published her first novel in Melbourne in 1912 and lived for a time in London where she met Dr John Scott whom she married in 1914. After the First World War she came to live at Mortlake and her novel writing ceased. Most of her novels are about women rebelling –against Catholicism, Calvinism, the English class system and the restraints of marriage. Her railings against the Catholic Church and the oppression of women caused her to be a controversial figure, especially in Mortlake, but she was a popular novelist with one of her books, ‘Smouldering Fires’, selling over 100,000 copies in Australia alone. She died in 1964. No details on the inscription or the recipient of the book, ‘Isie’ have been found. The name, ‘Glasgow’ suggests that the book at some stage was connected with the Glasgow family of Wangoom. They were important local dairy farmers and cheese makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This book is of great interest because it was written by an Australian woman and one who lived for many years in Mortlake, a town close to Warrnambool. The connection with the Glasgow family is also of interest. This is a hard cover book of 320 pages. The book has a dark blue cover with gold lettering on the front cover and spine and some gold scroll work on the front cover. The book has a Prologue and 22 chapters and contains advertisements at the front and the back of the book for other books published by Ward, Lock & Co. There is a black and white illustration at the front of the book with a piece of tissue paper covering it. The page at the front of the book that contains an inscription is detached. The inscription and another annotation are written in black ink. The cover is partly detached from the pages and the cover is marked and worn. ‘To Isie Wishing her many happy returns of the day From Father, 15-9-14’ ‘Glasgow’ lindsay russell, ethel stonehouse, history of mortlake, australian literature, warrnambool history

This plate has been produced by the English firm of W.H.Grindley for use at the Criterion Hotel in Warrnambool. The Criterion Hotel was on the western side of Kepler street near Lava Street and was established in 1872 with the first licensee being John Tate. The hotel closed in 2008, was partially destroyed by fire in 2010 and was demolished in 2013. The Humm family had a long association with the Criterion Hotel, with George Humm of Woodford taking over as the licensee in 1882 and buying the hotel in 1887 and remaining there until his death in 1894. George Humm’s widow, Elizabeth, was the licensee from 1894 to 1907, her son, John was the licensee from 1907 to 1916 and his widow, Bridget, was the licensee from 1916 to 1919. The plate could have been in use for all or part of these years but is most likely to have been bought early in the 20th century. This plate is of considerable interest because it came from the Criterion Hotel, a prominent hotel in Warrnambool for over 130 years.This is a white china plate which has a red embedded stamp in the shape of a belt (the maker’s trademark) on the front and on the back it has the blue markings of the maker with an image of a crown. The bowl has a shallow base and was perhaps a soup plate. The edges of the plate are somewhat worn and scuffed. ‘Humms Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Grindley Hotel Ware England Vitrified’ criterion hotel, humm family of woodford, history of warrnambool

This plate has been made by the Globe Pottery Company in England and supplied by the china merchant firm of John Dynon and Sons of Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. As it has the mark ‘Cobridge’ on the back of the plate, it was made before 1934. It was used at the Warrnambool Criterion Hotel which was on the western side of Kepler Street near Lava Street. This hotel was established in 1872 with the first licensee being John Tate. It closed in 2008, was partially destroyed by fire in 2010 and was demolished in 2013. During the first 30 years of the 20th century licensees at the Criterion Hotel included members of the Humm family, Theresa Lynch and Henry and Margaret McGennan. The plate could have been used for all or part of these times and even at a later date. This plate is of considerable interest because it came from the Cruterion Hotel, a prominent hotel in Warrnambool for over 130 years.This is a circular white china plate with a shallow base probably used as a soup plate. It has a red embedded stamp in the shape of a belt on the front edge and on the back it has the grey markings of the maker.‘Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Globe Pottery Co. Ltd. Cobridge, England, Vitrified, John Dynon &Sons, Melbourne’ criterion hotel, history of warrnambool, humm family, woodford, theresa lynch, mcgennan family

This plate has been made by the Globe Pottery Company of England and supplied by the china merchant firm of John Dynon and Sons of Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. It was used at the Criterion Hotel in Warrnambool. The Criterion Hotel, situated on the western side of Kepler Street near Lava Street, was established in 1872 with the first licensee being John Tate. The hotel closed in 2008, was partially destroyed by fire in 2010 and was demolished in 2010. This plate, being marked with the name ‘Cobridge’, was made before 1934. In the first three decades of the 20th century the licensees at the Criterion Hotel were members of the Humm family, Theresa Lynch, Henry McGennan and Margaret McGennan. The dinner plate could have been used for all or part of these years and could have been used later as well. This plate is of considerable interest as it was used at the Criterion Hotel, a prominent hotel in Warrnambool for over 130 years. This is a circular white china plate with a rim and a slight indentation at the base. There is a red embedded stamp in the shape of a belt on the top edge and the grey stamp of the maker on the bottom of the plate. This plate was probably used as a small dinner plate. There are a few small imperfections and stains on this plate.‘Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Globe Pottery Co. Ltd. Cobridge England Vitrified, John Dynon & Sons, Melbourne’ humm family, mcgennan family, theresa lynch, criterion hotel, history of warrnambool

This item would have been made as a stand to display shoes in a shop. It may have been made locally in Warrnambool. As this item was donated to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society by a member of the Dickson family some years ago, it is highly likely that the stand was used for display purposes in the Warrnambool department store of Cramond and Dickson. This store, selling mainly men’s and ladies’ wear, was established by John Cramond and James Dickson in Warrnambool in 1853 in Timor Street and it later moved to Liebig Street, closing in 1973. This stand is of interest as an example of the type of stand used for display in shops early to mid 20th century. It is also significant as a possible memento of the Cramond and Dickson shop which was so important in Warrnambool’s history.This is a shoe stand with a wooden stick or pole tapering slightly to the top and ridged in three places. The pole is mounted on a wooden pedestal which is rectangular-shaped and which is indented to form a smaller rectangular base. A small wooden piece in the shape of a flat bottom of a shoe is attached to the pole with a metal bolt and nut. This enables the shoe piece to remain flat or to be tilted at various angles. cramond and dickson store, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, shoe display

This school text book was written by John James Burston. He was the son of David and Sarah Burston of Warrnambool. Both his father and his brother Benjamin taught in schools in the Warrnambool area. John Burston was at Mepunga and Woodford schools before leaving in 1871 to be the Master of the Anglican School at Creswick. He then became the head teacher at schools in Ballarat and Bendigo before going to the Brighton Road State School in St. Kilda. He spent 16½ years there before retiring in 1911. Burston was a well-known writer of school text books, including The State School Arithmetic, The State School Grammar and Exercises in Practice and Proportion. He died in 1915.This book is of great interest because it was written by John James Burston, a one-time resident in the Warrnambool area and a teacher with a distinguished record in education – he taught in schools in Victoria for 44½ years and wrote several texts for State Schools.This is a hard cover book of 243 pages. There are several blank pages in the middle of the book and at the end for teachers’ notes. The cover is dark red with gold lettering on the front cover and on the spine. There are some illustrations scattered throughout the text.john james burston, physics and general lessons for victorian state schools, warrnambool

The name ‘Ruttledge’ may have no local significance thought the name ‘Rutledge’ is important in our history, commencing with William Rutledge who purchased the Farnham Special Survey in the 1840s( Tower Hill to Dennington). The name ‘Swinton’ is prominent in our history. Mrs John Swinton (Charlotte Scott nee Dunn, 1871-1944) was married to John Swinton, the son of William and Ann Swinton who came to Warrnambool in 1854. William established a store in Timor Street in the 1850s and opened branches of this store in several local towns. The Swinton family still has commercial interests in Timor Street. This book is of interest because it belonged to Charlotte Swinton, a member of the Swinton family important in Warrnambool’s commercial and community history. This is a black leather-covered book of 656 pages plus a Supplement of Hymns of 32 pages. The cover has gold lettering on the front and the spine. The pages have a gilt edging. The inscriptions are handwritten in pencil. The cover is somewhat scuffed and worn. ‘Mrs John Swinton’ ‘A. Ruttledge, 317 Wattletree Rd., E. Malvern’ swinton family, warrnambool, john swinton, charlotte swinton, history of warrnambool

This book has been in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society for many years and little is known of its origins. ‘Anne Watson’ may be Annie Watson, nee Grant (1830-1906), the wife of John Watson who came to Victoria in 1855 and had a farm in the Cudgee area. There is a reference to a ‘G. Geary’ as a member of the Belfast (Port Fairy) Choral Society in 1860. This is an early memento of settlers in the Warrnambool area and their religious adherence and, as such, is of some interest. This is a hard cover book of 391 pages. The cover is brown leather with gold lettering on the spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. There are two mauve stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the front and back pages. The cover is a little scuffed. ‘Presented to Anne Watson by her nephew, Godfrey N. B. Geary, Oct. 4th 1856’. history of warrnambool, anne watson

This book contains information for children on a great variety of topics and is in the form of a catechism with questions and answers. Pearl Davidson would be a member of one of the pioneer Davidson families. The brothers, James, John and William Davidson were early settlers in the Warrnambool district. This book is of antiquarian interest as an early instructional guide for children. It is also of interest because it belonged to a member of the Davidson family, important early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 474 pages. The cover is a mottled brown with gold lettering on the spine. The binding is much worn and partly torn away. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Pearl Davidson’pearl davidson, the child's guide to knowledge

This book was written by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), a famous and influential English Protestant preacher who attracted a great following in the 19th century, not only in England, but throughout the British Empire and U.S.A. He reached the masses by producing many religious tracts, costing one penny, and publishing his sermons and his John Ploughman books with their simple homilies. These books were sub-titled ‘Plain Talk for Plain People’ with the copy we have being the second in the series labelled ‘140th thousand’ and published in 1892, the year of Spurgeon’s death. It appears that Spurgeon’s books were in many a home in Warrnambool in the 19th century. This book is of great interest as one which was familiar to many residents of Warrnambool and district in the 19th century. Charles Spurgeon was apparently widely known to Warrnambool residents in the 19th century. The Warrnambool Examiner newspaper frequently carried news items about Spurgeon’s eloquent preaching and the crowds he was drawing. It also published some of his sermons from time to time and reported at length his final illness and death. One of the unidentified photograph albums in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society contains a photograph of Charles Spurgeon and his wife. This is a book of 158 pages with some of the pages missing at the end. The book is coverless and held together with string and a piece of glued paper. The text has 38 short instructional articles with many black and white illustrations. The first and last pages are torn and almost detached. history of warrnambool

This is a school reader used in the 1890s by Maggie Glasgow at Wangoom State School. This school opened in 1865 on the Warrnambool/ Wangoom Road as a Common School but it is now closed. Maggie Glasgow is probably Margaret Glasgow (1880-1954), the daughter of John and Esther Glasgow who were dairy farmers and cheese makers at Blackwood Hill, Wangoom. Jean Glasgow was the daughter of William and Isabella Glasgow who lived in the same area. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection examples of the Glasgow butter moulds. This book is of interest as an early school reader for Victorian children. Used in the 1890s this book has some Australian content. The Glasgow children that used this book are members of the Glasgow families important at the turn of the 19th century as cheese makers in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 400 pages. Several pages are missing. The cover is dark blue with ornamental patterning on the front and embossed lettering. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. The inscriptions and other written material have been handwritten in black ink and pencil. The pages are partly detached from the binding. ‘Maggie Glasgow, State School No. 645 Wangoom, 31/5/95’ (written twice) ‘Jean Glasgow’ ‘Dear old Mag’ ‘Isie wants a half holiday because L.W. got 20 for English’ maggie glasgow, jean glasgow, history of warrnambool

This boot belonged to Thomas Rome and may have been either an apprentice’s model or a display item in his boot and shoe shop or both. Thomas James Rome (1873-1974) worked in John Younger’s store in Beechworth before both came to Warrnambool in 1888. Rome worked in Younger’s store in Liebig Street, Warrnambool for 17 years and then established his own boot and shoe store at 115 Liebig Street in 1907, retiring in 1962. He married Amelia Saltau and they lived at Murweh at the corner of Liebig and Princess Streets, Warrnambool. Thomas Rome is mostly remembered today for his purchase and use of an Edison phonograph machine in the late 1890s and the sound recordings he made with this machine at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. These recordings were found intact after Rome’s death and are regarded as the earliest sound recordings still surviving in Australia today. This sample boot is of great significant as an example of the bootmaker’s art in the early 20th century and as a memento of Thomas Rome, important in Warrnambool’s history as a businessman and in the history of sound recording in Australia. This is a small sample black leather boot (probably a lady’s boot). It has double ridged stitching across the instep with a soft leather upper part and stitching separating the soft leather section from the smooth leather. The right side of the boot has seven button holes and seven buttons attached with metal clips. The sole is leather with a small heel and the name of the owner stamped on the sole. ‘10’ ‘T.J.Rome’ thomas rome, history of warrnambool, antique lady's boot, leather boot vintage

This book belonged to John B. Murray and he gave it to Miss Jessie Sandison on their wedding day. It appears that they lived in Scotland. The handwritten family information reveals that George Sinclair married Janet Swanson in 1825 and one daughter, Ann, married George Sandison in 1859. Their child, Jessie Sandison, was born in 1865 and married John B. Murray on 19th April 1888. The births of four Murray children are recorded in the Bible – Annie, John, George and Maggie. The husband, John B. Murray, died in 1916 and Jessie died in 1925. This Bible is both of antiquarian interest and also of interest regarding the connection with the Sandison/ Murray families. But so far there is nothing to link these families with the Warrnambool area. So the item at this stage remains useful only for display. This is a black leather-covered book. The cover is extended at the edges to partially enclose the pages which are gilt-edged. The cover has embossed decorative patterns and the spine has gold lettering. The cover is stained and torn in places and the inscription pages and two others are loose. The inscriptions have been handwritten in black ink and there are two stamps with the name, ‘J.B. Murray’. One page lists the Murray/Sandison family tree information. ‘J.B. Murray’ ‘To Miss Jessie Grandison 19/4/88’ john b. murray, jessie sandison, warrnambool hitory

This book was awarded in 1884 to Bessie McMahon from the Warrnambool State School. The teacher was Bella Davidson. Warrnambool State School No. 1743 in Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, was opened in 1876 and is still open today. Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) McMahon was the daughter of William and Mary McMahon of Glenrye, Warrnambool. Her father was a Warrnambool lawyer. Bessie McMahon married John Clarke of Garvoc. Isabella (Bella) Davidson was the daughter of John and Isabella Davidson of Rosebank near Woodford. She became a well-known teacher in Warrnambool, commencing as a pupil teacher in the Warrnambool National School (later Common School 646) and moving to the Warrnambool State School in Jamieson Street when it opened. She resigned in 1886 to open a private school in Koroit Street (known as Ellerslie College) and continued as the proprietor and Head Teacher until 1891. This book is of considerable importance because of its association with the Warrnambool State School early in its existence, with Bella Davidson, a noted Warrnambool educationalist of the 19th century and with Bessie McMahon, a member of a prominent family in 19th century Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 310 pages. The cover has a blue background with gold and black ornamentation and a gold shield. The shield contains an illustration of a girl lowering a bundle down from a window to a boy below. The lettering on the cover and spine is gold and the pages are gilt-edged. The cover is slightly stained. There are several full-page black and white illustrations scattered throughout the pages. The illustration at the front of the book is loose and the binding is partly detached from the spine. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Warrnambool State School 1743 Decem 1884 Prize Awarded to Bessie McMahon for highest marks in French Div 111 B. Davidson’ warrnambool state school, bella davidson, bessie mcmahon, history of warrnambool