This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was 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 lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. 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 Ralph 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. RALPH ERIC PATTISON 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 Pattison accepted a 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 area 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 during 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 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. Cross Currents The Story of Margaret Author: Eleanor H Porter Publisher: A L Burt Comp. Date: 1913Label on spine cover with typed text PAT FIC POR Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Children’s Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service 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, 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, great ocean road, cross currents, eleanor h porter

The Lady's Realm was a illustrated monthly women's magazine published in London in the 19th century, initially edited by W. H. Wilkins. It also published 36 volumes between 1896 and 1914. The Lady's Realm was a British women's magazine published from 1896 until 1914, possibly until 1915. It primarily targeted upper-class readers as well as an aspirational middle-class audience, featuring photographs, poems, fiction, and columns by popular authors such as Marie Corelli, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Jack London, and H.G. Wells. (Wikipedia) Founded in 1833, the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts is the longest running School of Arts (also known as a "Mechanics' Institute") and the oldest continuous lending library in Australia. These magazines reflect women's interests in the early 20th century. Women’s magazines developed rapidly through the 1800s, reflecting both marketing developments and social changes. As the century progressed, publications aimed at women changed from the middle-class drawing-room journals of the 1830s and 1840s to the cheaper, chattier, more domestic magazines of the 1880s and 1890s. This item oi an example of a publication aimed at a particular social class.A thick hard back book with a dark blue and red fabric cover. It contains short stories by various authors. "SYDNEY MECHANICS SCHOOL OF ARTS 225 PITT STREET" on front cover.literature-lady's-realm short-stories

3 x copies of The Myer Story 1911-1981 stapled and typed on white paper - 3 x pages.Historian Jean S. Carterdocument, myer

An Audacious Aussie Dream ,Family Care Sisters Story, 203 pages in a soft cover with black and white photographs.Penelope.A.Edmanbooks, biography, family care sisters

a. 'Uncle Remus's Revival Hymn' b. 'Adam and Eve and the Apple' Handwritten 'religious' stories. Written in fountain pen.S.A. Bushperson, individual, bush collection - personal

'A story of progress' produced by the Bendigo Advertiser and The Bendigonian - their history and how they are produced - with the Proprietors' Compliments. 8 pages with photographs.Bendigo Advertiser and Bendigonianbendigo, newspapers, bendigo advertiser, bendigo advertiser, bendigonian, newspapers, george mackay, robert mackay, angus mackay.

The Story of the Burke and Wills expedition, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria 1860-1861 189 pages with photographs and maps.Ron Munroaustralia, history, explorers, australia-history-explorers

Photograph: Girl with racing bike On Rear: Elish Lock 12/2/94 ND-Story BM-Pixrecreations, sports, cycling, bendigo advertiser

Photograph -Girl in racing uniform On Rear: Elisha Lock 12/2/94 WD Story BH Pixrecreations, sports, cycling, bendigo advertiser

Photograph - Man on racing bike On rear of photo: Marcel Wust E/H Stage winner story critrecreations, sports, cycling, bendigo advertiser

The Ladies Claim to Fame, the story of Margaret Kennedy & Julia Farrell, 26 pages with black and white photographs and a map.Rita Hullcottage, miners

Booklet of 47 pages The story of Gilwell in Victoria, by W.D. Kennedy, Published by The Australian Boy Scouts Association, [1963].book, boy scouts association

Story: Advisor (Apr 1964-Nov 1965). Squad Commander Nui Dat (1/1970-12/1970).behind the wire, ian teague

The USB is a copy of a 16mm format film labelled TATURA LAGER 1942 with the name G RUFF on it. This nine minute film shows three folk dances performed by young girls at the Temple Society during their internment in Camp 3 Tatura, Victoria. Copy given to the Museum by Doris Frank when the Templers visited the Museum in November 2022 for a Templer reunion.HistoricPink covered USB with black writing on front. In a glad bag. Also sheet of paper with the story of the folk dancing.Camp 3 Folk Dancing 194216 mm film, tatura lager 1942, g ruff, camp 3 tatura, folk dancing, templers, usb, doris frank

Coloured Photograph of Jason the Faery Tale Man telling stories to the children on a very wet Wisteria Party Daynunawading and district historical society, wisteria party 1999

Coloured photo of Children listening to stories from Jason, The Fairy, in Local History Room at Wisteria Party, 1999.nunawading and district historical society, wisteria party, 1999

Black and white photograph of Primary School students at St Nicholas church for Christmas story. Lakes Entrance Victoriaschools

Hard cover with dust cover. 124 pages with black and white photos. The story of the Australian Army map makers.

THe story of the Burma - Thailand Railway. Soft cover, no dust cover. 60 pages containing black and white prints.

The Postcards show trams of Launceston which operated from 1911 to 1952, published by International Railway Postcards of Launceston. The background card gives a short history of Launceston trams and the reproduction of two tickets. 1 - Postcard 1 - No. 11 leads a line up of cars in Elphin Road - Ken Flood 6-3-1948 2 - No 27, Mumford St loop - Ken Flood - 9-10-1948 3 - No. 24 Wellington St, photo Ken Flood, 26-2-1949 4 - No. 9 turns from George St into Cameron St - 25-9-1948 - Photo Ken Flood 5 - No. 26 - Talbot Road terminus - 1-11-1948 - Ken Flood 6 - No. 9 Elphin Road, 13-10-1948 - Ken Flood Yields information about Launceston trams, the Museum having No 14 on display, No. 14 from 2022.Set of 6 black and white postcards and a story card. Each have a caption on the rear and a place for a stamp and address.launceston, tramways, tramcars

Green A3 folder containing students' stories published in a newsletter format. 30 Pages handwritten and typed. Multicoloured.education, primary, golden square laurel st p.s.

Early settlers, Fisken family's dwelling.Colour photo Lal Lal House, Yendon, Victorian single story, red brick, gabled tin rooflal lal house, yendon, garden, fisken