Jenny Watson is a long-time employee of the Port of Echuca known for her extensive knowledge of the Murray River and associated stories of past and present. Born in Rhodesia, Jenny escaped internal conflict and came to Australia at 19 years old. A great horsewoman and also a natural on vessels, when she came to Echuca in the 1980s, she soon trained for her Masters Certificate with the encouragement of skippers such as Kevin Hutchinson and Alan Bartch. She skippered the P.S. Canberra and P.S. Emmylou for many years. Jenny worked at the Tourism Centre before the Discovery Centre was built. Her knowledge helped her become an integral Tour Guide at the Port of Echuca and her sensitivity to the unseen world, led her to develop the special Port After Dark Tour revealing some of the spirits and energy that runs unseen through the Port from past events. This remains a very popular tour with visitors and locals. Jenny currently comes in as a specialist volunteer talking to visitors about every subject to do with Port. Jenny is a living legend. Jenny features in the Women of the River Exhibit in the Discovery Centre.Digital recording of oral history interview with Jenny Watson riverboat captain in the 1980s. discovery centre, tour guide, port after dark, captains, murray river captains, women of the river, p.s. canberra, p.s. emmylou, 1980s

The Warrnambool Baptist Church in Koroit Street celebrated 150 years of formal worship in 2014. This book gives a brief overview of those years from 1964 to 2014 as the first 100 years have been recorded elsewhere. The book gives details on resident ministers, women’s and men’s fellowship societies, missionary work, local church activities and Sunday School classes. The book is of some importance as it gives us a good picture of the Baptist Church in Warrnambool over the past 50 years. It will be useful for researchers and for others interested in the Church’s activities. The author is well-known in Warrnambool as a former pharmacist and a volunteer worker in historical and cultural spheres (Flagstaff Hill, Mahogany Ship Committee, Portuguese Festival etc)This is a paper back book of 52 pages. It has a red cover with a colour photograph of the interior of the Warrnambool Baptist Church. The pages are glued together. The book contains printed material, black and white and colour photographs and illustrations. Front Cover: ‘Loving God, Loving people’ – A Brief History of Warrnambool and District Baptist Church 1964 to 2014 warrnambool, warrnambool baptist church

The history of Lot 71 on Plan of Subdivision No. 4315 Wonga Park (area 50 acres 1 rood and 29 perches) starts in 1902 when the subdivision was registered by the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria Limited then transferred to Millie Glass, Married Woman of Glenferrie. The history of registered owners who have a connection with the Lot include Harris Glass, Janie Glass, Annie Glass, Charlotte Soloman, Barnett Glass, Sydney Charles Mackie, Arno Herbert Neuparth and Valerie June Neuparth, inter alia.Archive file for Lot 71 on Plan of Subdivision No. 4315 Wonga Park, containing title history documents and research. Documents include Certificates of Title Volume 4390 Folio 992, Volume 5924 Folio 711, Volume 8723 Folio 836, Volume 8995 Folio 834, Volume 9016 Folio 994, Volume 10006 Folio 334 and Plan of Subdivision No. 3039575.

Joan Richard was a speaker at the Surrey Hills Historical Society meeting in November 2013. A watercolourist, she has been a long standing member of MSWPS, Past and Recent President in 2017 and a Life Member. The Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors was founded in 1902 by women who had been students at the Art School of the National Gallery of Victoria, to provide a forum for artistic discussion and an opportunity to view and comment on each other's work. Originally named the Students' Art Club, it became "Woomballana" (meaning either 'everlasting beauty' or 'search for beauty') Art Club, The Women's Art Club, the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and finally, in 1954, the present title was adopted. The history of the MSWPS and its members’ achievements, issues of the workplace, family and art commitments, the economic survival of artists, migrant artists and prejudice against women are also explored. Much of the information in “More Than Just Gumtrees” has not been available in previous publications; it includes hitherto unpublished sources - oral history interviews, minute books, reviews, letters, early photographs. There are includes biographies of over 300 artists, with individual exhibition lists, representation in public collections etc REF: MSWPS website. Artist Mabel Pye, who lived in Surrey Hills, is one of the featured artists.A history of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors and of the women who have belonged since 1902. Some of these women have become well-known to the art world, other have slipped by un-noticed. Incl. index, bibliography.To the Surrey Hills/Historical Society/Presented by/Joan Richard/19th November/2013melbourne society of women painters and sculptors, women painters, women sculptors, mabel pye, joan richard

Pamphlet - A4 sheet folded to DL, printed on orange paper titled "City of Malvern - A brief Malvern History", outlining the history of the City, including early settlers, churches, the Town Hall, settlement, the history of the name and street names, houses and hotels. Has photo of tram using a crossover in Glenferrie Road. Produced by the Malvern Historical Society. Two copies held.trams, tramways, sale of trams, seattle, w2 class

.1 - two page A4 lined sheets, hand written, titled "History of Tram No. 939 by Norm Cross PTC" - detailing the maintenance and repair history of W6 939 and its conversion to Restaurant Tram No.3 in 1995. .2 - Photocopy of the record cards "Car History", 10 sheets cut to size, giving dates, repairs, accidents, notes and maintenance of the tramcar.trams, tramways, restaurant tram, w6 class, records, tramcars, history, tram 939

History of Women's Costumes - covers ancient Greek/Roman/Britain/Saxons/Normans, spans from 12th to twentieth centuries. Costumes for various types of occasions, including headwear, handbags and shoes.Hard cover book "History of Women's Costume" by Marion Sichel. Green background on cover with four drawings of models in historic costumes.Costume Reference History of Women's Costume Marion Sichelhistoric costumes

This little book is one of only 1000 books published of the original Queen's Jubilee Edition. It spans fifty years of the history of Warrnambool from the time that the first Government Land Sales commenced. It also deliberately coincides with the 1887 celebrations of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year of her ascension to the British Throne. The book is an invaluable reference for researchers of local Warrnambool history and has been used as a text book and reference book for local students. The book had two owners before it became part of the Warrnambool Public Library, and when the library closed down, the book was held by the Warrnambool City Council until, in 1974, it was transferred to the newly established Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. The author, Richard Osburne, (1825-1895) was born in Australia. He moved to Warrnambool in 1847 as the first local Journalist. In 1851 he founded the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper which he operated until the end of 1880. Osburne was much involved in civic and community affairs of the town, and he set himself the task of recording the history of the city's early pioneers. In the introductory pages of the book the author refers to himself as "The Father of the Warrnambool Press". Only 1,000 copies of this edition of the book were printed. In September 1980 a facsimile edition was printed with the addition of illustrations from the period, an index and relevant annotations by local historian T.A. Wicking (Tom Wicking). This later book was named the Premier Town Edition, due to Warrnambool being awarded the title of Premier Town in Victoria in 1979-82 by the Premier of Victoria; it also received the inaugural award in 1959 and a later award in 1988-91. This book is rare. It is one of only 1000 copies printed, and one of three in the Collection of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. The book was dedicated to the early colonists as well as to the new arrivals by the writer, Richard Osburne, who entitles himself as "The father of the Warrnambool Press". The content of the book is invaluable as a reference for Warrnambool and District's local history in its early colonial and pioneering days. It provides the information that helps in an understanding the foundation that the city was built on, connecting the people of today to the pioneers of the past. The inscriptions of two previous owners of the book, at least one of whom was a local resident, gives additional significance to this copy. The History of Warrnambool: Capital of the Western Ports of Victoria From1847 (when the first Government Land Sales took place) up to the end of 1886, By Richard Osburne, Proprietor of the Warrnambool Examiner from 1851 to the close of 1880. Author: Richard Osburne Publisher: Prahran: The Chronicle Printing & Publishing Company Limited Date: 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) Edition: Original: Queen's Jubilee Edition Small book with hard cover and reinforced spine. Dust jacket front has been pasted over front hard cover. The hardcovers are covered with clear adhesive plastic covering. Inscriptions include a typed label on the spine, a stamp at base of the fly page, on the loose page inside front cover, on inside back cover, and two hand written names on the second fly page; Jackson Giblett and G. M. Potter. The first fly page has a message to the readers, as shown in the Inscriptions of this record.Label on spine "R.A. 994.57 OSB" Inscriptions on second fly page: "Jackson Giblett / 1886" and "G.M. Potter, 70 Japan Street" Printed on fly page: "PRICE, FIVE SHILLINGS" Stamp of front end paper: WARRNAMBOOL / PUBLIC LIBRARY", "000336" and in a rectangular border " - - - - - - / WARRNAMBOOL / PUBLIC LIBRARY" First fly page: "THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE EDITION. TO OLD COLONISTS AND YOUNG AUSTRALIANS, OR NEW ARRIVALS, THIS HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE CAPITAL OF WESTERN VICTORIA, IS DEDICATED AS INTERESTING AND USEFUL, BY "THE FATHER OF THE WARRNAMBOOL PRESS" RICHARD OSBURNE." Stamp inside back cover: "WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY/ Liebig Street / Warrnambool 3280 / (055) 6- 2258"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, the history of warrnambool, richard osburne, osturne's history of warrnambool, queen's jubilee edition, 1847-1887, warrnambool history, the chronicle printing and publishing company, capital of the western ports of victoria, first government land sales, warrnambool examiner, five shillings, warrnambool's first reporter, warrnambool public library, 1887, 1979, premier town, premier edition, queen's jubliee, queen victoria's jubilee, western ports of victoria, 1847, government land sales, chronicle publishing and printing co., g m potter, 1000 copies, t a wicking, jackson giblett, 1886, japan street, old colonists, young australians, new arrivals, rise and progress, capital of western victoria, interesting and useful, the father of the warrnambool press

"This is a revised edition of the original 1919 Regimental History" "From the beaches of Anzac Cove to the gas ridden trenches of the Western Front" "The pyramids to the rolling plains of Stone Henge" "Ground traversed by the Twenty-Second (Victorian) Infantry Battalion during World War One"Hard cover book with dust cover. Hard cover cardboard with grey coloured buckram , gold coloured print on front and spine. Illustrated with purple over red diamond colour patch. Dust cover, paper, pinkish/orange glossy coloured background, purple coloured print on front, spine and back. Illustrated with purple over red diamond colour patch (small) front and back and black and white photograph of a group of soldiers 'somewhere in France. 245 pages, cut, plain, semi gloss white. Illustrated - black and white photographs and maps.Front fly leaf - printed donation label - "Donated by 39th Australian Infantry Battalion (1941-43) Association Inc www.39battalion.com" Top right front flyleaf - printed label with handwritten in black ink "No. 120 of 500"books, military, history, wwi

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. WARRNAMBOOL'S 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 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. 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 History of Pendennis Vol 2 Author: W M Thackeray Publisher: Oxford University Press Date: 1864Label on spine cover with typed text PAT FIC THA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker 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, the history of pendennis vol 2, the history of pendennis, w thackeray, thackeray w

A copy of an address given at a Foundation Day Luncheon by a long standing Legatee and past President Legatee Rob Allison. He had joined Legacy in 1950, and he comments that only 5 members remain active that were with him in 1950. In 1950 they were all posted as member of various committees, he got Welfare and Friday night girls' classes. There were 9 boys' classes throughout Melbourne, and girls' twice a week at Legacy Headquarters at 24 Market St. There were 230 active members and each legatee had 4 or 5 families with children. He mentions that in 1950 the President was 62 years old but only 5 years after the end of the war, the tide had begun to turn towards the 39ers. (He called the older legatees '1914ers' or 'the Bow and Arrow boys'). He applauded the 'founding fathers' for limiting the numbers of members, in 1929 it was 230 and in 1959 a limit of 300. They used a classification method to classify the members so they had a diverse range of skills and community representation. Areas were: Production, Distribution, Services Public Authority, Services Other, and Board List. The President had a Secret Committee of 3, no one knew who was on the committee, even those members didn't know the identity of the other 2. This committee vetted the background and integrity of new members. In 1950 the budget was £27,000 plus a capital budget of £3,500. Legatee Allison tells a good story of his induction into Legacy, including his wife joining other Legatees wives in fundraising. In 1951 Comradeship meetings moved to Thursday nights at the instigation of Burt Nathan. 'Birthday boy' invitations started in 1958 when John Cooper was Chairman of the Comradeship. After some years of discussion the first paid Social Worker was employed in 1953 and as a result her efforts the first Senior Widows' Group got underway. Until the 1950s Legacy had always found the money it required, from big companies, wealthy members of the community, Estates, or Trusts. In 1951 it tried to copy a Sydney Legacy idea (Certificate of Adoption Plan) and called it 'The Endowment Scheme'. Other fundraisers included films, premiere showing and musicals were very much a part of the social life of Legatees. One premiere show in 1952, 'The Greatest Show on Earth' was sold at £100 a double. In 1959 Sir Frank and Lady Tait were kind enough for give us a premiere of 'My Fair Lady'. As the 50s progressed cash flow was not enough and it was decided in 1957 to have the first public appeal (he says 1957 but it was 1956). The first Badge day was 1958 (according to this account). He says it grossed £21,000 (net £17,000). And the Legacy story was becoming better known. 'Legacy has never been a one man band. The strength has been in the resourceful ability of those of its members.' He was well placed to tell the story of the donation towards Dureau House. BG Corporation in New York used 'Brown and Dureau' as agents in Melbourne for their spark plug manufacturing (for the American aircraft based in Australia during the war). A royalty of two shillings and sixpence was agreed. The entrepreneur President of BG Corporation was Richard Goldsmith. L/ Grat Grattan had a friend Mr Edwards who was managing director at Brown and Dureau and heard of the desire by Goldsmith to leave a permanent memorial to ex-servicemen in Australia (Children's Hospital was considered). Grat took Edwards to Market St and showed him the inadequacy of the building. It was agreed if Melbourne Legacy could come up with a purchased building in 10 days they would get the money needed. The property purchased was 'Storey Hall' in Swanston St (also called Hibernian Hall in other documents). After the war it turned out not to be suitable and a new building was required. The speaker is identified as Rob Allison based on two things; at one stage he refers to himself as 'Rob' and this copy of the speech has been faxed to Legacy from the offices of John Allison Monkhouse. Another copy of this address has been located with the date of September 1988 that was filed with information on Past Presidents and the lives prominent legatees. The notation H59 in black pen shows that it was part of the archive project that was trying to capture the history of Legacy. A record of Legatee Rob Allison speaking at a Legacy luncheon about significant events since he joined in 1950. Speakers at Legacy luncheons were from very different walks of life and the subjects spoken on were many and varied. Foundation Day was celebrated with a special luncheon.White A4 photocopy with black type x 8 pages of an address about Legacy history written in 1987.Handwritten H59 in black pen. history, speech, foundation day, past presidents, dureau house, rob allison

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

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. History of The Rebellion of 1745-46 Author: Robert Chambers Publisher: W & R Chambers Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 940 CHA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, 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, history of the rebellion of 1745-46, robert chambers

Hard cover book printed 1916 by Ernest Scott, Professor of History at University of Melbourne.history, australia, e. scott

This research manual gives sources and details for history research. Includes stories from the area.b&w photographsoral histories, historical research

Gives a comprehensive account of the origins of local names in the area. Anecdotes of interesting pieces of history.Maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographsjaitmathang, minjambuta, djilimatang, ngarigo, brabiralung, braiakaulung, yuin, gunnai, lake tyers, dargo river, omeo, bright, swifts creek, benambra, ovens valley, mount hotham, mount nugong, wonnangatta station