This book has been used by children of the Giles family at the Wangoom State School. William and Allan Giles were members of the Giles family that lived on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School, no. 645 was opened in 1865 on the Warrnambool/Wangoom Road as Wangoom Common School. It became Wangoom State School after 1872 and is now closed. This book is of interest as an example of the reading books used by children in Victoria late in the 19th century. The book contains stories about England and the British Empire but has no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by children of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 190 pages. The cover, once blue but now very faded, had embossed lettering and ornamentation on the front cover but these are now almost indecipherable. The book has come apart from the spine and has been re-stitched with white thread. There is much scribble on the first and last pages with the decipherable inscriptions being handwritten in black ink and pencil. There is a blue stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page. The text has many black and white illustrations with some coloured in by the users. Many of the text pages are torn, stained and scribbled on. ‘William E. Giles, State (ed. word missing) Wangoom’ ‘Allan Giles’ giles family, wangoom state school, history of warrnambool

This is an early school reader for junior classes. It was used by members of the Giles family at Wangoom State School. This book has the names Robert Giles and Stella Giles. The Giles family lives on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School commenced in 1865 as Wangoom Common School, No. 645. After 1872 the Common School system was abolished and it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an early 20th century example of a school reader used in Victoria. It has no Australian content. It is also of interest as a book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 190 pages. The cover is black with embossed lettering and ornamentation (much of which is now indecipherable). The front and the back of the book have missing pages. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. Some pages are torn and the spine of the cover is torn at the top. There is some scribble in the book, with the decipherable material handwritten in black ink. ‘Robert Percy Giles, Wangoom, November 5th 1903’ ‘Stella Giles’ giles family, wangoom state school, history of warrnambool

This is a school text book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family. The book contains the names of Allan Giles and Henrietta Giles. The Giles family lived on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later became known as Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an example of an English Grammar book used in Victoria early in the 20th century. It is also of interest as a school book used by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area.This is a soft cover book of 80 pages. The cover is dark red with black lettering and an ornamental border. The cover is very stained and worn. At the front and the back of the book and on the back cover are advertisements for other books published by Allman and Son. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil. There is a purple stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page of the text. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ ‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Allansford Road’ wangoom state school, giles family, history of warrnambool

This school text book has been used at the Wangoom State School in the late 19th century by Henrietta Giles. The Wangoom school was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Giles was a member of the Giles family that lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of the school texts used by children in Victoria late in the 19th century. It contains the history of Britain in Tudor and Stewart times and has no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by Henrietta Giles, a member of the family that settled early in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 331 pages plus some supplementary material at the end. The cover (once blue?) is much stained and torn and the embossed black lettering and British Coat of Arms on the front cover and the spine are now almost indecipherable. Part of the back cover and the bottom edges of some pages have been eaten away. The inscription is handwritten in red ink. The text contains many illustrations, some of which have been hand-coloured. The first two or three pages are missing.‘Henrietta Giles, Wangoom S.S. No. 645, 22/7/91’henrietta giles, wangoom state school

This school text book was used at the Wangoom State School by Henrietta Giles in the late 19th century. The Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Robina Victoria Giles was born in Woodford in 1881 to Henry and Mary Jane Giles, early settlers in the Warrnambool district. They lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of a school text book used in Victoria late in the 19th century. It is also of interest because it belonged to Henrietta Giles, a member of a family living in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 70 pages. The cover is brown with embossed lettering and ornamentation on the front and back cover. It is much stained and splotched. The first page is torn at the edge and some of the other pages are dog-eared. The two inscriptions (identical) are handwritten in black ink.‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Wangoom State School, No. 645’ wangoom state school, henrietta giles

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 was given as a prize to Dorothy Donalson who was a pupil at the Warrnambool State School. No. 1743. This school was opened in 1876 in Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, following the 1872 Education Act bringing free, secular and compulsory education to Victoria. Several other Government- sponsored primary schools that existed in Warrnambool in the early 1870s closed when the school in Jamieson Street opened. The school still operates today. The name, ‘Dorothy Donalson’ may be a spelling mistake and may be meant to be Dorothy Donaldson who was living in Derby Street, Warrnambool at that time. Her father Cyril and his brother had a timber yard in Raglan Parade.This book is an excellent example of the type of book given as a prize to school girls in Victoria in the 1930s. The author, May Wynne was a popular and prolific writer of the time. If the book belonged to a member of the Donaldson family, then this is of interest as the Donaldson timber business was a prominent one in Warrnambool at the time. This is a hard cover book of 255 pages. The cover is grey with black lettering on the front and the spine and an image of two schoolgirls in black and grey on the front cover. The book also has a dust cover with a multi-coloured image of the same two schoolgirls on the front cover. The dust cover has been reinforced with white paper pasted on the inside of the cover. The name plate is blue-coloured and has an ornamental edging with the information handwritten in black ink. The book contains 18 chapters and has a full-page black and white illustration at the front of the book.‘S.S. No. 1743 Warrnambool Presented to Dorothy Donalson, First Prize, Grade V11 Girls, 1934’ warrnambool state school, dorothy donaldson

This is a reader produced for schools in Victoria in 1909. It contains many simple fables and stories and some phonetic instruction at the beginning of the short articles. It has no specific Australian content. The inscription includes the name ‘Stanley Bell’. There were several Bell families in the Wangoom area early in the 20th century, including one teacher associated with the Wangoom State School. Stanley Bell may have belonged to one of these families. Walter Davies had a book shop in Timor Street, Warrnambool from the late 19th century and three generations of the Davies family were proprietors of this shop over the years. This book is of educational and social interest as an example of the readers used by primary school children in the early 20th century. This is a soft cover book of 80 pages. The cover is brown with black printing. The pages are partly torn across and very tattered. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil and there is some scribble on the first pages. The text has many black and white illustrations. There is a blue stamp of Walter Davies, the Warrnambool bookseller, on the first page. ‘Stanley J. Bell, Warrumyea, Wangoom’ ‘Walter Davies, Bookseller, Warrnambool’ walter davies, stanley bell

These birds’ eggs were collected by Charles Brittlebank before 1910 but at this stage it is not known from which area they came. English-born Charles Brittlebank was a naturalist interested in ornithology, geology and mycology. He was the Government Plant Pathologist for Victoria from 1913 to 1924. He was the first to discover evidence of glaciation in the Werribee Gorge and published many papers on this subject and other aspects of natural history. It is not known when Charles Brittlebank was in the Warrnambool area or the origin of the birds’ eggs but it a very interesting (and perhaps rare) historical collection. .1 Birds’ Eggs - There are 27 eggs, either whole or partial specimens, contained in a box with home–made cardboard partitions. Ten are intact and the rest are broken. Eight are white and the remainder are speckled. The eggs are resting on a turquoise-coloured piece of material .2 Nest – This is woven from hair and fine twigs and is filled with white wool-like fragments .3 Letter – These are two sheets of writing paper with handwritten information in blue ink. .4 Envelope - This is a small envelope which contained the sheets of paper (.3 above) and the front has handwritten material in blue ink..3 ‘To whom it may concern – I hereby declare that these eggs were collected before 1910, and were part of a collection of the late Charles Brittlebank which is now in the Melbourne Museum. Fred. A. Shirrefs.’ .4 ‘To whom it may concern’ charles brittlebank, history of warrnambool

This lock was once used in the old 19th century gaol in Gilles Street, Warrnambool. The gaol is part of a group of four heritage buildings which comprise a police station, a police residence, police stables as well as the gaol. These were built between 1883 and 1888 from the designs of the Victorian Public Works Department architect, E.R. Laver. He was responsible for the designs of many 19th century country police stations, post offices and courthouses in Victoria. The four heritage buildings, of which the gaol is one, are important because they are some of the few surviving Warrnambool 19th century bluestone buildings. Today they form part of the South West Tafe Complex. This lock is of considerable interest as one used in the Warrnambool 19th century gaol building. The door on which it was used appears to be walled up now. This is a large iron lock with a base plate with three rivets and a projection piece. There are three curved iron pieces on the plate and these are fixed to the plate with 12 rivets. The bolt is rounded and moves under the three curved pieces across the plate. There are two other curved pieces, part of the bolt locking system. The lock has surface rust. warrnambool police and gaol heritage buildings, history of warrnambool

This book belonged to Emily Gascoigne Stratford. She married Barnard Mathews in Victoria in 1856 and the births of seven children are recorded in Victoria. Carshalton (the home of the aunt who gave the book?) is a town in Surrey, England. So far no connection has been found between the Mathews family and Warrnambool.This book has no known local provenance but it is of interest for its antiquarian value. This is a hard cover book of 381 pages. It has a brown cover with embossed ornamentation and gold lettering on the spine. The front cover is partly detached from the binding and the pages are gilt-edged. There is a black and white illustration on the second page. The cover is very faded and stained and there is some staining throughout the pages. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Mifs Emily Gazoigne Stratford, From her Aunt, F.S. Stratford, Carshalton, Augst. 1850’. emily gascoigne stratford, emily mathews, warrnambool history, believers daily

This book contains the Constitutions of the Freemason Lodges in Victoria. Freemasonry is a world-wide benefit society. Moves were made in the 1860s to establish a Masonic Lodge in Warrnambool with the first Lodge being St. John’s (No. 895). The Masonic Hall in Kepler Street was built in 1870. This book belonged to a member of the Flaxman family and John Flaxman was a prominent Warrnambool resident in the 19th century – an insurance agent and moneylender in the 1860 and 70s and an employee of the auctioneer, Samuel Macgregor. The book, however, seems to belong to a W. Flaxman. John Flaxman had a brother William but, as far as can be ascertained, he did not live in Warrnambool. There is nothing known so far to link this book with Warrnaambool but it is kept because of the name ‘Flaxman’ and so it may have some relevance.This is hard cover book of 142 pages. The cover is blue with gold lettering on the front cover. The cover is slightly marked. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in black ink. ‘Br W.S.B.J.Flaxman 24-2-25’ william flaxman, freemasonry in warrnambool

This book is an autobiography of George Meudell (1860-1936). He spent about six years in Warrnambool as a young boy when his father came to Warrnambool as the Manager of the Bank of Victoria. Meudell went to the Warrnambool Common School 646. He later became well-known in Melbourne in social, economic and political affairs. He was a company promoter, stockbroker and writer and an acquaintance of most of the influential and wealthy people of the time. In 1928 Meudell wrote an article for the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Journal detailing his memories of Warrnambool and this article is now a very important piece of local social history. He was enthusiastic about the benefits of living in Warrnambool in the 1860s and 70s. Meudell’s book, ‘The Pleasant Career of a Spendthrift, was an important publication as it gave a complete account of the commercial morality of the power brokers in the financial world - those concerned with the land boom and the banks’ crash of 1886-1893. The book was so inflammatory that it was initially withdrawn from sale. This book is of considerable interest as it was written by George Meudell who lived in Warrnambool in the 1860s and 70s and played a part in Warrnambool’s history by writing about these years. The book is also of wider interest as it has some information on people connected with Warrnambool’s history, including John Archibald and Thomas Bent. The signature in the front of the book is of no known relevance to Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 282 pages. The cover is red with black printing and the spine is very faded. The book has a foreword and twelve chapters of text. The first page contains a signature and notes written in pencil.‘Gordon Leitch Christmas 1942’ george meudell, victoria’s land boom (19th century), history of warrnambool

This set was given by the Warrnambool City Council Councillors to Horace Lawson on the occasion of his marriage in 1898. Horace Edward Lawson was the son of Susan and Thomas Lawson. The latter at one time had a drapery business in Liebig Street. Horace Lawson was the Town Clerk of Warrnambool from 1893 to 1918. He was a keen cyclist and a member of the Warrnambool Volunteer Artillery Corps. In 1918 Lawson was appointed the Secretary of the Municipal Association of Victoria, a Melbourne appointment. This set is of considerable interest as it was presented to Horace Lawson, notable in Warrnambool’s history as a long-serving and successful Town Clerk. This silver-plated tea and coffee set has four items – coffee pot, tea pot, sugar basin and milk jug. All have the same etched decorative patterns on the sides and the lids and all have handles attached with a nut and a bolt. The tea pot and the coffee pot have the maker’s marks on the bases and there is an inscription on the side of the sugar basin. The lids of the coffee pot, tea pot and milk jug are hinged. ‘W. Mammatt & Sons Sheffield’ ‘Presented to H. E. Lawson Esq. Town Clerk by the Mayor & Councillors of Warrnambool on the Occasion of his Marriage Sept. 1898’horace lawson, history of warrnambool, silver tea set

This booklet has been produced in April 1902 for the Government of Victoria under the direction of the Minister for Agriculture, Hon John Morrissey M.L.A. It contains articles on agriculture in Victoria, including the dairying industry in the Western District. This journal is of some interest because of the photographs and information on dairying in the Western District in the early 20th century, including dairy inspection, milking controls in Koroit, prize-winning cows at Koroit and dairy bacteriology. This is a soft cover booklet of 102 pages - pages 350 to 452 of Part 4 of a journal published regularly (monthly?). The back cover is missing. The front cover is black and white and has an inset of a photograph showing wheat harvesting. The booklet is bound with cotton thread and shows rust where the thread is tied, perhaps from metal staples now removed. The cover has a slight tear and there is some staining throughout the pages. The booklet contains maps, diagrams, sketches and black and white photographs. dairying in the western district, koroit dairying, warrnambool history

This journal has been produced in 1905 for the Government of Victoria under the direction of the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. George Swinburne, M.L.A. It has articles on agriculture in Victoria, including an article on how to increase and improve our dairy products and an article on the Grasmere Butter Factory. This journal produced in 1905 is of considerable interest because it has an article on the inspection of the Grasmere Butter Factory and the resultant erection of a new building on the site. Dairying is a major industry in the Warrnambool area and this journal contains important historical information and photographs.This is a soft cover journal of 68 pages (pages 482 to 550 in Part 7 of a journal). The front cover has a black and white photograph of a wheat harvesting scene. The back cover is missing. The first two pages have advertisements for insurance and banking firms. The journal contains black and white photographs and statistics tables. The pages show considerable silverfish damage. The journal is bound with cotton thread and rust marks show where metal staples may have been removed. grasmere butter factory, dairying in the western district, warrnambool history

This is a first edition copy of the Victorian School Readers (Eighth Book) issued by the Education Department of Victoria. These readers were first published in 1928 and became standard texts for all school children up to Year Eight. They complemented the School Paper which had been published monthly for different year levels since the end of the 19th century. Both the Readers and the School Papers were in widespread use until the late 1940s and the early 1950s. William McCullagh and his wife Margaret had the property Oak Grove at Yangery at the end of the 19th century and in the early decades of the 20th century. Yangery is an agricultural area situated between Woodford and Koroit. There is a record of Silvie Jean McCullagh (parents – William and Margaret) born in 1914 and this is probably the person who owned and used this reader. This book is of interest not only because it is a first edition copy of one of the well-known Victorian School Readers but also because it was connected to the McCullagh family of Oak Grove, Yangery. This is a hard cover book of 260 pages. The cover was originally a burnished brown colour but the book has been covered with a mottled patterned cloth material (red, green and brown). The cover is partly torn off at the bottom of the spine. The book has poetry and prose extracts and includes many black and white sketches, maps, photographs and illustrations. The inscription and some other annotations throughout the book are handwritten in pencil. ‘Sylvia McCullagh, Oak Grove, Yangery, Dennington P. Office’ history of warrnambool, oak grove, yangery, mccullagh family, school readers

This book was printed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, 1887 (50th anniversary of her Coronation as Queen of England). John Markman is most likely the father or grandfather of Mary Snell (nee Markman). Mrs Snell was a teacher in Warrnambool and an active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in its early years. She wrote the first book on the origin of street names in Warrnambool. Allendale is a small settlement in the Hepburn area of Victoria. This book is of minor interest as a memento of Queen Victoria’s 1887 Jubilee and as a book that appears to have come to the Historical Society via an early member, Mary Snell (nee Markman). This is a book of 240 pages. It has a black cover with the imprint on the front cover of a crown and shield and the words ‘The Queen’s Jubilee, 1887, Victoria’ and on the back cover a circular scroll with the words, ‘British and Foreign Bible Society, New Testament’. The cover has been bound with black tape and adhesive tape but the binding has come apart. Several pages are torn at the edges and dog-eared. ‘John Markman, Allendale, 17th June 1887’ Copy of Queen Victoria’s handwritten message - ‘On earth peace, goodwill toward men, Victoria, Windsor Castle, March 8,1887’ john markman, mary snell, history of warrnambool.

This book has the signature of Joseph Ware of Minjah, Caramut, Victoria. Joseph Ware came, with his parents, from England to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in 1822. With his brother, Jeremiah, he came to the Port Phillip Colony (Victoria) in 1838 and settled in the Colac area (Wooriwyrite and Koort-Koort-Nong stations). With his brothers or alone Joseph then held the runs of Minjah, Mustons Creek (Barwidgee), Sinclair West and Springburn. Joseph Ware was a highly successful pastoralist, breeding sheep, cattle and horses and importing Shorthorn cattle. Ware was connected with Minjah from 1845 to his death in 1895. The homestead at Minjah which still stands today was built by Joseph Ware in 1870. This book is of interest because of its antiquarian nature. But it is far more important because it was once the property of Joseph Ware. He and his brothers were most influential pastoralists in South Western Victoria in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 630 pages. It has a Preface, an Introduction, five Books with Chapters on the history of Greece and an Index. The cover is dark brown leather, now stained and mottled, with ‘Robertson’s Greece’ embossed in red and gold lettering on the spine. The top of the first page has been cut out and there is considerable staining throughout the book. There is one insert map of ancient Greece and some scribble (perhaps a signature) on the first and last pages. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Joseph Ware, Minjah, Caramut’ ‘Dec.24…’ ware brothers, joseph ware, minjah, pioneers of s.w. victoria

This book contains poems written by Lindsay Russell. This was the pen name of Ethel Stonehouse (1883-1964) who was born in Nhill, Victoria and published verse, short stories and novels. She gained a national reputation for her novels, many of which were controversial at the time, dealing with rebellious women and they were often critical of some aspects of the Catholic Church. Her first novel, ‘Smouldering Fires’ sold 100,000 copies in Australia alone. In 1914 Ethel Stonehouse married Dr John Scott and came to live in Mortlake, Victoria. ‘The Caravan of Dreams’ was her last publication. This book is of considerable significance as a book of original poems by Lindsay Russell, an Australian author who lived in the local area (Mortlake). The book was printed at the Terang Express newspaper office in 1923. This is a soft cover book of 32 pages. It has a dark blue cover with a border at the top and bottom of the front cover and black printing. The ornate borders are repeated throughout the pages. The book contains 28 poems. The cover is a little stained. lindsay russell (ethel stonehouse), history of mortlake, australian literature, warrnambool history

This is the original manuscript for the song ‘Back to Warrnambool’, composed for the ‘Back To’ celebrations in Warrnambool in 1930 and reprinted for the ‘Back To’ celebrations in 1934. The song, described as a ‘souvenir foxtrot’ was written by Reginald Stoneham, a professional musician who was engaged to write the song. Reginald Stoneham (1879-1942) was a composer who was Australia’s leading exponent of jazz and ragtime piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century. He composed many tunes for anniversaries and celebrations in country towns and cities in Victoria. The original ‘Back to Warrnambool’ music was given to Henri Worland, the Town Clerk of Warrnambool in 1930 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society by Keith Arnel, the Town Clerk in 1973. Note that the original song was ‘Respectfully dedicated to the Pioneers of Warrnambool’. This dedication, for some reason, was not printed on the music issued in the ‘Back To’ programs of either 1930 or 1934. This is a significant item as the song ‘Back to Warrnambool’ has great historical significance as it was popular in Warrnambool in the 1930s and 40s and is still played and sung occasionally today. It is one of the two local songs about Warrnambool composed by Reginald Stoneham. The other is the Warrnambool Waltz Song. It is of interest to historians and researchers to have the original music.This is the original handwritten manuscript of the song, ‘Back to Warrnambool’. There are two pages of pre-ruled music score papers, filled in on both sides of the paper. The paper is marked ‘Boomerang Brand No2’. The musical notes and the words of the song are in black ink. The name of the song is outlined in red ink. The first page has the heading ‘Souvenir Foxtrot Song, Back to Warrnambool, Words and Music composed by Reginald Stoneham, 1930, Respectfully dedicated to the Pioneers of Warrnambool’. The last page has the signature of Reginald Stoneham. The first page has the signature of Henri Worland. warrnambool, reginald stoneham, back to warrnambool

This is an original Elector’s right certificate of 1900 for the Warrnambool Electoral District. This entitled the owner to vote at elections held for the Legislative Assembly in the Government of Victoria. The voter had to be male and resident in the electorate( in this case Warrnambool).This certificate was issued to Aden Armstrong an undertaker with a business in Timor Street opposite the Old National Bank which was at the corner of Kepler and Timor Streets. The Registrar who signed the certificate was Richard Geilhofer. The certificate was one of the items in the Henri Worland collection of historical society in 1973 by the Warrnambool City Council via Keith Arnel the Town Clerk. The timeframe of this document is on the cusp of major electoral change in Australia with the Federation of Australian states happening in 1901 and the granting of the vote for Australian women in the various states over the next decade.This item would have been a common item at the time as all those entitled to vote had to present same. It has local significance with Aden Armstrong being in business in Warrnambool for a number of years.Cream coloured paper with black text. Victorian coat of Arms at centre top of document. Drawing of lady holding shield on left side Handwritten information is written in faded black ink. Blue stamped number 137050 on top right corner. Back is printed with notes for the elector.Signature and date 1/11/00 at top left. Warrnambool is stamped in dark blue twice at top. Aden Armstrong of Lava St Warrnambool, Undertaker is written on the form with his signature at bottom right. Also signed by the registrar of the day, Richard Geilhofer. Date is also included 24th January 1900 elector's right certificate, aden armstrong, warrnambool, warrnambool undertakers

Mechanics Institutes were first established in the 19th century in Scotland and England to improve the education of working class men and to instruct them in their various trades. In Australia Mechanics’ Institutes were set up in the late 1920s with the first one in Melbourne dating from 1839. The Institutes in Victoria were (and some still are) a feature of Victorian country towns, usually consisting of a hall containing a Library and in bigger centres art class rooms and other recreation areas. The Woodford Mechanics’ Institute was established in 1861, enlarged in 1868 and burnt down in 1917.This seal is of major interest as it is the only seal we have of Mechanics’ Institutes in our district. These Mechanics’ Institutes were very important in the educational and social development of Victorian country towns. This is a seal or stamp made of brass and attached to a wooden handle. The wood on the handle is of a dark colour and is urn-shapedStamp - Woodford Mechanics Institutemechanics’ institutes, woodford, early mechanic institute seal

This book contains information on all known Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes were organizations formed originally to improve the education of working men and to instruct them in their various trades. The first Institutes were established in London and Manchester in the 1820s and in Australia the first Institutes were set up in New South Wales and Tasmania in the late 1820s, with the first one in Melbourne in 1839. Mechanics’ Institutes were set up in Victorian country towns, in many cases, soon after the settlements were founded. This book is of some importance as a reference book as it gives information on all known Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria and there were many in the Warrnambool region. The Mechanics’ Institutes were important centres for local adult education and recreation. The book will therefore be of great use to readers of local history and researchers. This is a hard cover book of 704 pages. It has many photographs, mostly black and white, and other images related to Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. It has a Contents page, Foreword, Dedications, a story entitled ‘Dingo Flat’, Preface, Introduction, Acknowledgements and articles on hundreds of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria, whether closed or still existing. The front cover has two black and white photographs and the title and the back cover has images from two Mechanics’ Institutes. The authors are Pam Baragwanath and Ken James.Front Cover: ‘These Walls Speak Volumes’, ‘A History of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria, ‘Pam Baragwanath and Ken James’mechanics’ institutes in victoria

This ledger contains entries from 1894 until 1910 which relate to the farrier business of Hugh Mc Cullough. Accompanying the ledger is an index of names which contain the following J W Adams, J H Allan, J Beattie Batterbee, Rev Grey Dixon, Duirs and Warrell, Wm Houston, Dr G Wilson, Warrnambool Rabbit Factory, Western Stage Co, Spalding & Fletcher, Stevens Hay & corn store, Hugh Mc Cullough was a blacksmith. He was born in County Down, Ireland on 13 March, 1848 and died in Warrnambool, Victoria, 10 september, 1905. He married Margaret Lutton Mayne, born Caramut, Victoria, 15 October, 1856, died 28 February, 1928, Warrnambool, Victoria. Hugh and Margaret had 11 children.This ledger is linked historically and socially to Warrnambool, containing a large number of local names.Dark green cloth over card with leather spine binding and corners. 527 pages with alphabetical index at the front Green and maroon patterned pages inside front and back covers.Hugh McCullough printed inside front page. Stamp inside back cover, “G U Petterd Bookseller and stationer Warrnambool”warrnambool, mccullough, mccullough farriers, farriers warrnambool,, hugh mccullough

The Loch Ard had left England in March 1878 and 90 days later on June 1st it was approaching the coast of Victoria when it wrecked off the coast near Port Campbell at what was to become known as Loch Ard Gorge. Two people survived, Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce. While much has been recorded about the survivors, this is the first publication which looks at the other 51 people on board. This book lists where they came from, family histories and lists internet references for further information. Some of the names listed are Yates, Stuckey, Jones, Rolleston, Godby, Mitchell, Fax, Hunt and Giles.An interesting insight into an aspect of the Wreck of the Loch Ard which has been previously unknown. Written by local authors.Soft card cover with coloured aerial photograph of Loch Ard Gorge Title in brown with sub title in white. Authors name in white on brown strip at bottom of cover. The back cover has blurb written in panel imposed over photo of Loch Ard Gorge looking seaward. 160 pages.Authors Carlyn and Ron Sproston.warrnambool, loch ard, lost of the loch ard, loch ard gorge,

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He along with his brothers, was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. James Bostock was the youngest of Robert and Rachel Bostock with his mother dying in childbirth with his delivery. He loved working with horses and was close to his brothers Augustus and John. He was the third of the Bostock brothers to marry an Aitkin sister in this case Alice in 1875. He was a commission agent and money lender in Warrnambool. He died in 1919. In the 1860/70’s William Melville traded in partnership with William Bayles as merchants in Melbourne and as landholders and leases of land in the Western District Weerangourt with 14192 acres freehold. This lease is for approximately 6000 acres and is for a period of 10 years at 2/9 per acre. This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. The document itself is indicative of its time and provides an insight into the details and terms of such documents at the time. Ten page, large sheeted document, handwritten in black ink on blue paper. It has been folded in four. Date and names of people involved on one section.William Melville Augustus Bostock James Bostock.warrnambool, bostock, augustus bostock, james bostock, william melville, lease 1862,

The Bostock, Manifold and Aitkin families were all pioneering families in the Western District of Victoria almost from the time of settlement. They leased and owned vast tracts of land and operated businesses around the district, often associated with the farming industry. This document is dated 5th July 1865 and is an assignment of stock by way of mortgage. Augustus Bostock is the mortgagor with James William Manifold Aitkin and Ernest Bostock as mortgagees. At various times they were involved in running businesses together, in particular the Aitkin and Bostock store and flour mill. Three of the Bostock men were married to three of the Aitkin sisters. The amount in question is £2157/3/2 and surety is 8000 sheep and their increase, presently running at Coomete. The penciled in details on the document refer to Robert Brand Paterson who was later in business with Aitkin This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. The document itself is indicative of its time and provides an insight into the details and terms of such documents at the time.Large grey coloured, lined hand written document over four pages. Folded in four with date and details on one section. Red wax seal on page 3. There are extra entries written in black lead pencil in areas relating to the money and surety of the agreement.Signed by the following George Barber Warrnambool, Thomas Sunderland Deputy Registrar General, and Augustus Bostock. Hingston & Co, Chancery Lane Melbourne hand written in top left hand corner. warrnambool, bostock,augustus bostock james william manifold aitkin,robert brand paterson, coomete,

This is a brochure commemorating the arrival in Australia of John and Isabella McLeod and the unveiling of a plaque at the Immigrants Wall in Portland in 2015. The Immigrants Wall is located in Bentinck Street in Portland, Victoria and was a Glenelg Shire Bicentenary Project to enable descendants of those who first set foot on Australian soil at Portland to commemorate this event by placing a memorial plaque on the wall. John and Isabella McLeod were two of these immigrants to come to Portland in 1854. They came from the Isle of Raasay in Scotland and they and their families settled in areas around Warrnambool (Purnim, Port Fairy, Framlingham, Rosebrook etc)This brochure is of some interest as giving some information on John and Isabella McLeod and their families who came to Portland in 1854 and settled in areas around Warrnambool. These McLeods are ancestors of Graeme McLeod, a Warrnambool and District Historical Society memberThis is an A3 sheet folded three times. It has printed information on the Immigrants Wall at Portland and on John and Isabella McLeod. The front page has an outline of the McLeod tartan and the clan badge. The pages include colour photographs and a McLeod family tree.Front page: ‘McLeod, John & Isabella, Commemoration of arrival in Australia, 1854, 7 June 2015, Immigrants Wall, Portland’john and isabella mcleod, immigrants wall, portland, warrnambool

This is an election leaflet for Michael Barling who was a candidate in the Federal House of Representatives seat of Wannon in 2013. This electorate is in the south west of Victoria and is the second largest in the State. It includes Portland, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Ararat and Halls Gap. Michael Barling, a teacher, was an unsuccessful candidate, winning 39.9% of the primary vote. Dan Tehan won the seat and is the present Wannon representative. This leaflet is of minor interest as an example of the advertising leaflets produced by a candidate for a Federal Government electorate.This is an A4 page paper leaflet folded in three and printed on both sides with printed material, colour photographs and the Labor Party logo. Front part: ‘Michael Barling, Labor For Wannon, Australian Labor’.wannon electorate, federal house of representatives, warrnambool