Hotpoint Irons were first developed in 1903 in California. The invention was named Hotpoint, after the heating elements that converged in the iron's tip, allowing it to be used to press around buttonholes and in and around ruffles and pleats on clothing and curtains. 'Hotpoint' electric irons were first sold in Australia around 1914 and remained a popular product for many decades. From the late 1920s they were manufactured in Australia by the Australian General Electric Co. Ltd.This iron is representative of early electrical appliances manufactured under licence in Australia from the late 1920s onwards.Early electric iron manufactured under license by Hotpoint Australia. The iron has a metal base into which a power cord is plugged. The iron has a wooden handle.Label: " Hotpoint. Made in Australia. Licensed by Edison Elelectric Appliance Co. Inc. Chicago, U.S.A. Cat.915 F61. W.575, W200."domestic appliances, early electric appliances, hotpoint australia

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved From Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. Thomas Stokes a diesinker and electroplater was born in Birmingham in 1831, and arrived in Victoria in the 1850s. By the 80s he was well-established in Melbourne, employing 30 tradesmen and apprentices. The business became a proprietary concern in 1911, re-named Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. This assists in establishing the provenance of the item to before 1911.This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is also an example of silverware of the early 20th century.A silver plate sugar bowl. It is circular in shape but has a scalloped rim and has a handle attached to the top. The hallmark of Stokes and Son, Australia is embossed underneath the bowl. This indicates that the item is made from Electro Plate Nickel Silver. A1 indicates that it was manufactured with the highest quality EPNS produced by Stokes and Son.On underside of bowl: "W S in the middle of a star and above a boomerang EPNS S&S A1 MADE IN AUSTRALIA 462 MATES LTD ALBURY"silverware, silver plate, domestic items

PCC 980 was an all-electric tram prototype built by the MMTB to demonstrate a tram based on a USA design. Only one was built due to import restrictions at the time.Yields information about the tram soon after its completion.Photograph, Black and White, of the PCC 980 at Preston Workshops June 1950. Print and photograph by Sutcliffe of 94 Elizabeth St Melbourne.Has Sutcliffe Pty Ltd stamp on rear - No. 8853. In ink on the rear: "M&MTB PCC-980, Preston W/S June 1950" tramways, tramcars, pcc class, tram 980, preston workshops, new trams, trams

The photograph shows SEC Ballarat tram No. 14 at the intersection of Sturt and Dawson Sts outbound to the Gardens via Sturt St West. The tram is in the green and cream rocker panels livery. The overhead for the Dawson St crossover is visible. Photo by I K Winney of Sydney, 12/1949.Yields information about tram 14 and the corner of Sturt and Dawson Sts during 1949.Black and white photograph with photographers details on rear."Car No. 14 cnr Sturt & Dawson Sts en route to Gardens via Sturt St W". 12/1949, I K Winneytramcars, sturt st, dawson st, tram 14

Black and white photo of some thirty eight rolling stock workshop depot maintenance employees at Malvern tram depot. Note the two employees at the right are standing on a raised works frame. behind that again is motor lorry. Behind the workers on the left in the photo is Works Locomotive No 8A and to its right a Californian combination car that appears to be raised up?Yields information about the rollingstock maintenance staff at Malvern Depot Workshop c1923.Black and white print mounted onto a cardboard back with remnants of adhesive tape on the rear. Second print mounted onto heavy brown stippled card within a backing paper border, with notations on the rear. Two copies held.In pencil "Malvern T Depot" Second print - "Tramway Workshops crew, Coldblow S Malvern 1916" and "W C Nankervis (extreme left)?tramways, workshops, tramcar maintenance staff, trams, mmtb, tram 8a, malvern depot

THIS CERTIFICATE BELONGED TO THE CLARKE FAMILY BEFORE BEING ACQUIRED BY THE MUSEUM.CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FROM INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES SALFORD UNITY - IN WOODEN FRAME.THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT IS PRESENTED TO BRO. W. K. CLARKE P.C.R. BY THE MORNING STAR TENT NO. 28 OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES. 2nd October 1911local history, document, certificates, clarke family

William PATTISON (1823-1895) was great grandfather of donor and driver of the first train at Sandridge, 1854. Digital image scanned from copy photograph & donated to the society by Keith PATTISON, great grandson of first Sandridge train driver then reclaimed for reproduction.Train at Sandridge January 1862, engine is "Kew". (No crack through this one).Details on back of copied photos. W.Pattison, D MacFarlane, J Pattison, J Workman, J Case, J Elsdon, W McLean, Woolshed.transport - railways, william pattison, j pattison, d macfarlane, j workman, j case, w mclean, james elsdon

James Worland Mills No 3441 59th Batt AIF. For main details refer 169P. James Worland Mills No 3441 enlisted in the AIF on 7.9.16 age 18 years 5 months in the 9th reinforcements 59th Batt. Enlistment papers signed by his parents stated that he was not to embark for overseas until he turned 19 years. Embarked 16.7.17. While in France he passed Lewis Gunnery School. Reached the rank of T/Sgt on 6.3.19. Discharged from the AIF on 10.10.19. A much larger photo in a ornate wood frame is in the collection. Refer 403P, other refer 166.3, 167.6Items relating to J.W.Mills. .1) Blue cloth passport with fold-out & photograph. .2) Tan cloth pay book. .3) Tan cloth pay book..1) Inscribed 'Mr. J. W. Mills, stamped 302711. .2) Pay book stamped 600263 .3) Pay book stamped 600263documents, paybooks, passports, military

Image taken of the Geelong Lawn Tennis Association - B2 Grade Premiers for Season 1973.1 photograph of Premiership tennis teamStanding: K. Hammond (Capt.), W. Stokie, B. Dendle Seated: Mrs E. Dean, Mrs B. Tampion, Miss E. Paulusseleopold tennis club, geelong lawn tennis association, w stokie, b dendle, ethel dean, e paulusse, ken hammond, barbara tampion

Points of interest in the photo are Fox Theatre, Chelsea Railway Station and the building site of Masons Theatre on the corner of Chelsea Road and Station Street. Mr William Herbert Hansom was a pioneer of aerial photography in Australia.Black and white aerial photo of Chelsea, bordered by Thames Promenade, Balantyne Avenue, Catherine Avenue and Chelsea Road, Station Street, The Strand, Bath Street.W. H. Hansom ("Manders") Aerial Artist, Personally Conducted Flights over Melbourne and Suburbs St James' Building Bourke Street, Melbournechelsea, aerial photo, station street, chelsea road, the strand, bath street, fox theatre, masons theatre, w. h. hansom, chelsea railway station

Salvation Army Bandsmen and Women at Mt. William bushland setting. 1900 was a period of gold rush. Photo taken at the time of the gold rush Mafeking in the Grampians. Black and white photograph of a scene depicting a group of people, some bandsmen & women. The background is a bushland setting.W. Hale Mount William. (handwritten 1900). on the back John Clark. The Stawell S.A. band at Mount William. Sept 1900 R.M. Perry.stawell religion

This magazine was edited by Meredith Fletcher. Lake Tali Karng is a natural lake in the Alpine region of Victoria, in eastern Australia. Lake Tali Karng is a sacred place to the Gunai Kurnai people.This item is a useful reference on the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. It has a grey cover with a b/w photograph of Tali Karng lake in 1929. It contains photographs and articles on the history of Gippsland. The magazine is dated September 1996 and cost $8.00.There is a library bar code on the outside of the back cover and a call number 994.56 on the front. GIPgippsland-heritage-journal lake-tali-karng history-gippsland

This document was produced in 1989 for Orbost Shire Council. It ccovers the area s of Orbost, Mallacoota, Cann River and Newmerella and includes urban and non-urban areas.This document is a useful reference tool.A book with a brown front cover with a plastic over-sheet and plastic binding.On the cover are b/w drawings of rural landscapes, trees and the coast. It is titled SHIRE OF ORBOST PLANNING STUDY Part 1 Strategic Overviews, March 1989.orbost-planning

This album was used at the Orbost Visitor Information Centre (the Slab Hut). The Slab Hut (Orbost Visitor Information Centre) is an Orbost icon. This slab hut was built in 1872 as a family dwelling on a site about 3 km upstream from the junction of the Buchan and Snowy Rivers about 40 kms from Orbost on the Yalmy Rd. No nails were used in the construction; it was all wired together. After a period in storage the slab hut was opened in its present location in Orbost as the Information Centre in 1987.This item is a useful reference tool for the history of Orbost.A large photo album containing copies of photographs, some historical articles and b/w photos of Orbost. The covers are brown with a narrow gold frame. it has no spine and the covers are tied with tape. The pages, all different sizes, are bolted in.orbost-history album-photographs

Gippsland Heritage Journal is a journal, produced about every nine - twelve months, for those interested in regional, local and family history in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is compiled by Meredith Fletcher, Debbie Squires and Linda Barraclough and includes a diverse range of articles, both academic and non-academic. Since No.24 it has been a partially refereed journal. This copy was used in the library of Orbost Secondary College. This item is a useful reference tool on the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal No 7 December 1989. The cost is $6.00. The front cover is green with a b/w photograph of detail of Moran's farm in Jumbuck. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland,

Gippsland Heritage Journal is a journal, produced about every nine - twelve months, for those interested in regional, local and family history in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is compiled by Meredith Fletcher, Debbie Squires and Linda Barraclough and includes a diverse range of articles, both academic and non-academic. Since No.24 it has been a partially refereed journal. This copy was used in the library of Orbost Secondary College. This item is a useful reference tool on the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal No 12 (June 1992). It cost $7.00. The front cover is pink with a b/w photograph of "a friend in costume" by Lucy Way. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland.

Gippsland Heritage Journal is a journal, produced about every nine - twelve months, for those interested in regional, local and family history in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is compiled by Meredith Fletcher, Debbie Squires and Linda Barraclough and includes a diverse range of articles, both academic and non-academic. Since No.24 it has been a partially refereed journal. This copy was used in the library of Orbost Secondary College. This item is a useful reference tool for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal No 15 (December 1993). The front cover is yellow with a b/w photograph of a fishing fleet in Port Franklin circa 1918. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland,

All the men in the photo were Great War soldiers. On the day of the presentation in 1972 the men were accompanied by their wives or relatives and treated to afternoon tea by the RSL Ladies Auxiliary and entertained by two RSL members George Elliot and George English. Top. Norman McLaren Young Regt No 7595, 13th & 14th Bn's. Thomas Richardson Liddle Regt No 1963, 21st Bn. Centre. Wm Earl Waters Regt No 718, 22nd Bn & 4th Fld Engineers. Robert Harrowfield Regt No 4954, 8th Bn. Jabez Hopkins Merryman Regt No 1981, 11th Bn & 1st M.G Bn. Bot. William Flett Regt No1767, 22nd & 24th Bn's. George Keir Regt No 1374, 13th LH Regt. David Jones Regt No 2670, 57th Bn. Norman Charles Boyle Regt No 1803, 38th Bn. Roy McEwan Johnson Regt No 2671, 57th Bn.Photograph B & W showing a group of 10 men who recieved their 50 year membership Certificates as members of the Bendigo RSL Sub Branch. Photograph was taken on the stairs to the stage in the Main Hall of the Soldiers Memorial Institute Bendigobrsl, smirsl, 50 years, membership, wabrsl

Items in the collection re Clarence Shearing, refer Cat No 7089.16P for his service details.Photographs B & W various sizes of different subjects some with text on rear. Subjects include, troopship, bombing damage, power station, Japanese monument "Tori Gate" destroyed submarine. One has no relevance to the BCOF service."25.4.46 Westralia (Troopship)", "RMS Himalaya passing under Sydney Harbour 1959"photographs, bcof, japan

The item relates to Albert Victor Grinton No 5024 38th Bn (The No is wrong on the certificate) Refer Cat No 1320P for his service details along with his brothers. The photo of the medal presentation was taken by his brother Jack.Framed wood, glass covered with B & W photo, an award certificate and set of Replica medals being; 1. Distinguished Conduct Medal. 2. British War Medal 1914 - 19 3. Victory medal 1914 - 19“No 5055 Cpl A.V.Grinton 38th Battalion, awarded - Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1 March 1919 by Major General J Gellibrand”awards, dcm, medals

The photo is in the region of “Berchtesgadener in Germany”, item was sent around Christmas 1945. Part of the collection re Frederick Gardner Davey DFC RAAF. Refer Cat No 3536P for his service records.Post card, rectangular shape, white edge around with a B & W photo of a building in a forested mountain region, in white on the bottom RH corner acknowledgement of the photographer, on the back is a hand written letter in blue ink and space for a stamp.On the rear in blue ink,” Wishing the recipient a happy Christmas and offering a description of the region where the photograph was taken, signed by Alan Fi”postcards, germany, souvenirs

B&W photo showing two ex soldiers on Anzac Day 1990. Underneath is "Anzac Day 1990" followed by the names and service numbers of the men. Photo is set on an A4 sheet with black edge, frame is black wood."Edward (Teddy) Pearson NX7784-2400019" "Stanley Ronald Johns V518343-3400189-36639"photography-photographs, frame accessories, military history-army, anzac day 1990, pearson, johns

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 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. 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. The Poetical Works of John Dryden Author: John Dryden Edited by W D Christie Publisher: Macmillan & Co Date: 1890 Edition: The Globe Edition. First Edition 1870 Reprinted 1872, 1874, 1881, 1886, 1890The label on spine cover with typed text PAT 821 DRY Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service First paper after fly paper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museumflagstaff 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, the poetical works of john dryden, john dryden, w d christie

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. A Voyage to Terra Australis Vol 2 Book II Transactions during the Circumnavigation of Terra Australis, from the time of leaving Port Jackson to the return to that Port Author: Matthew Flinders Publisher: G and W Nicol Date: 1814Label on spine cover with typed text RA 910.4 FLI Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Librarywarrnambool, 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, a voyage to terra australis vol 2 book ii, matthew flinders

One of a collection of photographs donated by Bernie De La Haye.Photograph of a poster advertising trips by motor car, char-a-banc and drag trips to all parts of Phillip Island. Motor boat trips to all parts of Westernport bay. Full price list. W J Kennon Proprietor.day trips of phillip island and westernport, bernie de la haye

Man in top hat standing beside the car is most probably the Reverend John P. Carney (born 1880 Ballaghaderreen, Country Mayo, Ireland - ordained at All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland) who spent all his years as a priest in the Melbourne Archdiocese, arriving in Melbourne in 1902. He was appointed Assistant priest at St Francis Melbourne then at Castlemaine and Gordon. He left Gordon to the pastor of the new mission at Diamond Creek where he spent about five years before moving to Footscray and later Yarraville. The automobile has been identified as a Unic Taxi built in the United Kingdom about 1908 though the actual date of this particular vehicle is unclear. The registration number 7788 was issued prior to 1910 at which point they changed to numerals only of the form nnn-nnn. Reproduced on p93 of 'Pioneers & Painters'.This 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 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 120 format B&W negative Original sepia coloured postcard (10 x 15 cm) with cracking Black and white photograph duplicate (16.5 x 25 cm) with some corrections to mask cracksInscribed on reverse 'R.C. Parish Priest, Eltham'sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, parish priest, automobile, john p carney, diamond creek, unic taxi, pioneers and painters, eltham, motor vehicles, rev. john p carney

Pressure Gauge section, circular section of gauge with glass missing attached to a gate-valve. H 205mm x W 130mm x D 30mm. Recovered from the wreck of the Loch Ard. Previous number PWO 0349.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, pressure gauge, loch ard

T Rabbet Plane, iron and wedge intact. Body has the shape of an inverted "T" with the sole wider than the stock. Iron is 1 3/8 inches wide. Stamped A.Stevenson, GN inside a W and made by Inglis.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, t rabbet plane, a.stevenson

Account for the sale of 30 Hoggets sold by Wallace & Bramley for Mr. W. Babidge of Derby. Gives the price received, less selling expenses. Account printed in dark blue, light blue and pink and dated 11/11/1930.document, w. babidge collection - wallace & bramley

White docket from the Farmers' Co-operative Weighbridge, Derby, dated April 23 1936. Weighed ?ay Bags, owned by H. J. Bailey and purchased by W. Babbage. Printed by ? Brockley, Printers, Mitchell St., Bendigo.document, w. babidge collection - farmers' co-operative weighbridge derby, h j bailey