This item would have been owned by a man with some wealth as the silver hallmarks indicate an expensive purchase. Coin containers were used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a means of carrying some cash on the person and the matches holder was also a common item for men to carry.This item has no known local provenance but is useful as an example of social customs of the past and can be used also for display. This is a silver container divided into two sections – the top part with a hinged lid held wax matches and the bottom section has a circular recess for holding silver coins. This bottom section has a hinged lid. The top part has an indented and serrated part for striking the matches. The container is highly decorated in etched patterns with a space to engrave a person’s initials. The top has a ring with a chain for attaching the item to a chain. The container is slightly dented. Seven hallmarkssilver coin container, warrnambool, coin container

These tram tickets were issued by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board which operated from 1919 to 1983 and the train ticket was issued by the Victorian Railways. The Williamstown Short Road Ferry operated from 1931 to 1974 from Port Melbourne to Williamstown and was replaced by the West Gate Bridge which opened in 1978. This was the third ferry service in this area, with the first one commencing in 1873. These tickets have social significance as examples of the tickets used by Melbourne transport in the 1950s. They will be useful for display.These are five paper transport tickets (Melbourne tram & train and Williamstown ferry). The tram tickets are coloured orange and pink, the ferry ticket is green and the train ticket (made of light cardboard) is orange and yellow. The two orange tram tickets, (cost threepence) have an advertisement for Stamina Trousers on the back. They were purchased on the same day. The other tram ticket is a City Section ticket costing fivepence. The ferry ticket cost threepence and the train ticket for travel between Jolimont and Seaholme cost three shillings and fivepence. The tram tickets except for the City Section tram one have been punched with the characteristic punch of the conductor during those journeys. ‘Ask for Stamina self-supporting trousers, Thought for the Month, We become like those we habitually admire’. melbourne tram, train and ferry tickets., warrnambool

These nails came from an old building in Geelong.These nails are of interest in that they are good examples of the type of nails used early in the 20th century. They will be useful for display. These are nine old metal nails. They are rusted and some are bent. They are of varying sizes and have rectangular heads. Two have an indent at the base of the head and they are all flat in shape and taper to a point at the end. nails, warrnambool, geelong

The requirement to register dogs in Victoria commenced in the mid1860s and for most of this time has been a Local Council responsibility. Dog owners who do not register their dogs are fined. The origin of these particular dog registration tags is not known. These tags are of interest in that they are examples of the type of dog tag issued locally in the 1970s.These are five dog registration tags, circular in shape with a hole through the top for attachment to a collar. Each tag has a separate number. All the tags are made of a form of plastic. The 1977-8 tag for the City of Warrnambool is gold in colour and the Shire of Warrnambool 1977-8 tag is brown-coloured. The three Shire of Warrnambool 1978-9 tags are white and have silver-coloured printing on them. Shire of Warrnambool tags: ‘Shire of Warrnambool, 1977-8, 961, 1978-9 , 751,752,753, Dog Registration, Victoria’ City of Warrnambool tags: ‘City of Warrnambool, 685, 1977-8, Regd. Dogs, Victoria, Wellcome Product’ dog registration

This badge comes from the Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums and is presumably attached to an item of clothing. The Warrnambool Pipe Band was formed in 1906, originally to popularise Scottish music and later to foster a taste for bagpipe music. Simon Fraser, the first Pipe Major, held the position from 1906 to 1910. The band appears to have gone into recess during the latter years of World War One and was apparently re-formed in 1935. Again in World War Two the band was in recess The band has had several changes of title but is today known as the Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums. The badge is of interest as an example of one of the badges belonging to Warrnambool & District Pipes and Drums, an important and long-serving band in Warrnambool. This is a multi-coloured cloth badge, circular in shape. The outside edge is machine stitched in yellow and there is a blue band with the wording in yellow ‘Warrnambool & District Pipes and Drums’. In the inner circle there is an image, in colours of white, red, yellow, black and dark blue, of two drums, a staff and bagpipes stitched on a blue background. The back has a paper label with the details of the maker. ‘Warrnambool & District Pipes and Drums’ ‘Action Badges Pty Ltd, 34 Tooronga Terrace, Beverly Hills, N.S.W., 2209, Telephone (023) 502 4077’ warrnambool & district pipes and drums, badge

No information is available on this item but heel protectors were commonly used by householders in the early to mid 20th century to protect shoes from scuffing and damage caused by the wear and tear of frequent use. The protectors were usually put on the boots or shoes by a member of the family. They were commonly used until the 1950s. This item is of some interest as an example of the custom in the early 20th century of using heel protectors on boots and shoes. It is a useful display item. This is a metal object in the shape of a shoe heel (semi-spherical). It has five holes to put in screws to attach to the heel of a shoe or boot. It is silver in colour and has grooves across the surface to prevent slipping. heel protector, shoe

No specific information is available on these items. Cuff links were used in place of buttons on the sleeves of men's dress shirts which were made with button holes on both edges of the cuff. They were typically used for more formal occasions and many sported decorative stones or facades. Although we have no known information on these items, cufflinks generally have social significance and also some aesthetic appeal. They have long been a fashion item for men , with first usage recorded around the 16th century. These are five metal cufflinks, all gold in colour. Three are matching with a small mother-of pearl stud and two are matching with a black shiny round stud. There is also a small metal clip which may not belong to the other items. The items are in a plastic jewellery box (probably not originally housing these items). The box has a hinged lid and a ridged top with the embossed image of a rose and it is lined with black felt and white silk. The black felt has four holes for attaching an item of jewellery. Bottom of box: ‘Casecraft, Cat. No 104, Made in Australia’cuff links, warrnambool

The SS Casino was a coastal trader of 450 tons gross, 160.4 feet in length, built at Dundee for the Newcastle and Hunter Steam Navigation Company. It had saloon accommodation for 35 people, fore-cabin 25 and carried 300 tons (425 tonnes) of cargo.The Casino called at Warrnambool on 30th May 1882 while on her delivery voyage and narrowly escaped being dragged ashore by gale force winds. While the ship was in Warrnambool the directors of the Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company bought the ship. It was used as a coastal steamer solely on the west coast of Victoria run from 1882. On the morning of 10th July 1932 an attempt was made to berth the ship at Apollo Bay in heavy seas. Captain Middleton decided to take the ship out into the bay and wait until the seas abated, not realising that the anchor used to steady the ship as she was being manoeuvred had pierced her hull. The ship was put about and headed to the beach, but sank. The captain and four crew members were swept off the deck, and though one crew member was rescued, four drowned. The beaded picture was made by Mary Wickham, the grandmother of the donor. This item has significance linking a piece of handcraft and a local ship from the late 19th century.It has significant artistic value. Hand worked embroidery of black, white, maroon, gold & clear glass beads on a background of white polished cotton. The embroidery is in a black painted wooden frame. It is backed by a sheet of "War Cry" 26th April 1896. "Casino" in gold beading on bow of ship.the casino ship, warrnambool casino, warrnambool shipwrecks

This map possibly relates to land of John Bostock at Preston, Delatite. Part of a collection of papers relating to the Bostock family one of the earliest pioneering families in Warrnambool.Cream coloured map printed in black with sections coloured in pink. Plan of subdivision of part of crown allotments 15 and 17 and part of Preston pre- emptive right, Parish of Wappan, County of Delatite.warrnambool,bostock,augustus bostock map, delatite map,district of wappan map,

There is no specific information available on this watch and case. The watch was made by the American Watch Company which operated from 1850 to 1957. Small cases were often used to carry a watch in the 19th and early 20th century while a person was travelling, although wooden ones do not seem to have been common. The owner of watch, ‘A.U.’ has not been identified. Until the provenance of this item is established it remains an interesting object from the past and one suitable for display. This is a wooden case embossed on the front with a flower motif. It has a hinged lid with a space hollowed out inside to hold a pocket watch. This area has been lined with felt. The case contains an American silver watch which has a highly decorated cover. The watch face has Roman numerals with a smaller seconds dial. There is a winding mechanism and a ring at the top of the watch for attachment to a chain.On silver watch case: ‘A.U.’ On watch face: A. W. Co., Waltham, Mass. travelling case and watch, american watch company, warrnambool

A letter written from Preston Estate telling of issues regarding conditions of station life. Preston station and Devil’s river are both in the vicinity of Mansfield in North East Victoria A letter which is typical of the time and as such has social and historical significance and interest.Blue paper hand written in black pen. Written front and back of paper. The signature is in a different hand.Signed Frederick Griffin preston estate, bostock, warrnambool

This book belonged to Con O’Mahony (1863-1920). He was a lawyer practising in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Sandhurst (Bendigo) and studied at Melbourne University. In 1883 he won the University of Melbourne Bowen Prize for his essay entitled ‘The Federation of the Australian Colonies’. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has a set of books on the lives of the British Chancellors which was given to Con O’Mahony for winning the Bowen Prize. This book is of considerable interest because it belonged to Con O’Mahony, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also a book of strong antiquarian interest. This is a hard cover book of 878 pages. It has a dark red cover with red lettering on a gold background on the front cover and gold lettering on the spine. There are 250 illustrations scattered throughout the text. The cover is somewhat scuffed, especially at the edges. The inscription in handwritten in pencil. ‘C.O’Mahony, 13.9.93,WBool’ con o’mahony

This book is a novel written by Wendy Scarfe. Born in 1933 Wendy Scarfe was educated at Melbourne University and Melbourne Secondary Teachers’ College. She has taught in Australia, England and India where she worked for the Gandhian Movement. Her final teaching post was at Warrnambool High School (now Warrnambool College). She has published many novels, biographies, volumes of poetry and other works dealing with social issues. Several of her published works were co-authored with her husband Allan (dec. 2016) This book is of considerable interest as the author is a Warrnambool resident and a noted Australian writer. In ‘The Lotus Thorne’ she has drawn on her extensive knowledge of India and its customs and social and economic issues. This copy is a discarded library book. This is a soft cover book of 226 pages. The cover has a white background with a pink overlay containing an image of an Indian design on the front cover. The printing on the cover is in black lettering. Labels from Emmanuel College Library are on the front cover and on the spine and the Emmanuel College stamp is on a couple of pages. ‘Property of Emmanuel College Library, 37 Ardlie Street, Warrnambool, 3280’ wendy scarfe, warrnambool high school

This book, published in New South Wales in 1910, is a handbook for ambulance personnel. It belonged to ‘J. Brennan’ but this person has so far not been identified. This book is of strong antiquarian interest but its significance to Warrnambool and district has not yet been established. This is a brown leather-covered book of 275 pages. The front of the cover has gold lettering. The book has a preface, 18 chapters with many illustrations and an index. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. There is one fold-out page showing the arteries of the body. The cover is somewhat scuffed on the edges. ‘J.Brennan’ ambulance handbook, j. brennan

This book, marked ‘W. College, 1890’, has been in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society for a great number of years. It is presumed that the ‘W’ stands for Warrnambool and that the book belonged to a pupil or teacher from the Warrnambool College run by James Scott. This school commenced in 1887 in ‘Airlie’ in Henna Street and was at ‘Ashton’ (now part of Emmanuel College) from 1889 to 1899. The owner of the book, ‘N.’ (or W). H.’, has not been identified but it looks like a teacher’s handbook, rather than that of a pupil. This book is important, firstly for its antiquarian interest and as an example of a 19th century school text book and secondly for its association with James Scott’s Warrnambool College, a prominent private school in Warrnambool in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 328 pages, with some pages at the back listing other books published by Ward and Lock. The cover is dark red with gold and black lettering on the front cover and on the spine. The book has a Preface and an Introduction and there are several ornamental scrolls at the beginning and end of the text sections. The inscription is handwritten in pencil. ‘N (or W) H.’ ‘W. College, 1890’ warrnambool college (19th century), james scott, history of warrnambool

This Bible belonged to Thomas Wong Ch(e)ong who was the catechist at the Warrnambool Chinese Church in Ryot Street, Warrnambool. In 1892 Thomas Wong Cheong was appointed by the Foreign Missions Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria as the catechist to the Chinese community in Warrnambool and district. The Chinese Church in Ryot Street was established in the early 1890s and continued until the late 1920s when the numbers of the local Chinese community had declined. Thomas Wong Cheong and his wife worked tirelessly in the Warrnambool district until his death in 1923. No information has been found on James Yee Keet. This is a book of high significance because it belonged to Thomas Wong Cheong who holds an important place in Warrnambool’s history because of his work with the Warrnambool Chinese community over a period of 30 years. This is a leather-covered book with four gold Chinese characters on the spine and the back cover (the front cover for Chinese readers). The leather on the cover extends over the pages and folds inwards to almost enclose the pages. The pages are gilt-edged. The inscription is handwritten in blue ink. The book contains a fold-out map of the Mediterranean Sea area and all the text is in printed Chinese characters. The cover is somewhat scuffed and there is some silverfish damage on the inside cover. ‘Presented to Christian friend Mr Thos. Wong Chong Missionary at Warnambool (sic) by his sincere friend James Yee Keet Great Western Augt.1st 1895’ chinese in warrnambool, thomas wong cheong, chinese church, ryot street, warrnambool

This book is a novel by John Whitson published in 1907 and it could have belonged to either Thomas Redford Senior or his son. Thomas Redford Senior (d. 1909) was in the produce business with Frederick Stevens in Warrnambool in the 1860s and in 1879 he took over the business under the name of T.Redford and Co. This business operated at the corner of Fairy and Timor Streets. Thomas Redford Junior was a Major in World War One. He was killed at Gallipoli and his body was recovered from the site of his death by members of his company who were also from Warrnambool. Notable among these men was Paul McGinness, a war hero who was later to found the airline Qantas. This book is of interest as it belonged to a member of the Redford family, prominent in business in Warrnambool and in military exploits in World War One. The book gives us a idea of which novelists were popular reading in the early years of the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 283 pages. It has a light brown cover with lettering in black, gold and brown, a colour image of a rose on the spine and a colour image of a house and a car on the front cover. There is a full page colour plate at the beginning of the text pages and this is covered with protective tissue. The inscriptions are handwritten and printed in black ink. At the back of the book there are advertisements for other books published by Little, Brown and Company. The binding is coming loose at the top edge and the cover is very faded and stained. ‘T. Redford 1908’ ‘Redford’ thomas redford, history of warrnambool

This dictionary belonged to John Brass, an early settler in South Warrnambool. He owned several block of land and operated a lighterage business with John Young. As a lighterman and boatman he was well-known in Warrnambool. He was drowned in March 1895 while attempting to cross a temporary foot bridge across the Merri River. His house (probably in Stanley Street) was built in 1868 and remained as an interesting example of a lighterman’s cottage until1974. The dictionary probably became the property of W. Macdonald after John Brass’ death. No information has been found on this W. Macdonald. This book is of interest as it belonged to John Brass, an important early settler in South Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book of 974 pages. The cover is green with embossed patterning and lettering on the front cover and gold lettering on the spine. The book has a Preface, a Contents page, the Dictionary entries and an Appendix. There are many illustrations, from engravings on wood, scattered throughout the text. The cloth binding is coming loose and there are several loose pages. The last page is missing. The inscriptions are written in pencil and in blue ink and there are red stamps of John Brass. The cover is stained and faded. ‘John Brass, South Warrnambool, Victoria, Aust- 1893’ ‘June 5 x 6 x 93’ ‘J.Brass, Jetty’ Stamps – ‘John Brass, South Warrnambool’ ‘W.J. Macdonald, Moyston, Dec.23-11-95’ ‘W.J.McDonald’ john brass, history of south warrnambool, w. macdonald (moyston), warrnambool’s maritime history

This is a product that was sold in the general store of Cramond and Dickson in Warrnambool early in the 20th century and produced for this store at the time. It may also have been given to customers as an advertising feature. John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established a drapery store in Warrnambool in 1855, firstly in Timor Street and then in Liebig Street. It specialized in men’s and women’s clothing and drapery and had a tailoring and millinery business. The store opened branches in several towns in the vicinity of Warrnambool, including Port Fairy. It also opened a branch store in London, enabling it to import materials and other items direct from London. The Cramond and Dickson store in Warrnambool closed in 1973. This mitt is of considerable interest as it is a sample of the wares and advertising articles coming from the general store of Cramond and Dickson of Warrnambool. This store was of great importance in Warrnambool as a dominant business in the town/city for over 100 years. This is a rectangular-shaped oven mitt with light brown leather on one side and a green-coloured felt-like material with a fluted edge on the other side. The mitt has machine stitching diagonally across both sides and machine stitching around the edges. A leather looped tag is attached at one corner so that the mitt can be hung up. The reddish-brown printing on the leather side of the mitt is stamped into the leather. The leather side is a little stained. ‘Cramond & Dickson. Warrnambool, Port Fairy & London’ cramond & dickson stores, warrnambool, port fairy, london, history of warrnambool, john glass cramond, james dickson

These essays have been written by Walter Murdoch, a distinguished Australian academic and essayist. Murdoch (1874-1970) gained an Arts Degree at the University of Melbourne, with first class honours in philosophy and logic. In 1901 he came to Warrnambool, going into partnership with James Scott as proprietors of a private school, Warrnambool College. They bought out Warrnambool Grammar School, previously run by John Stanley. When Scott retired Murdoch became the sole proprietor and headmaster. While in Warrnambool Murdoch continued to write for Melbourne newspapers and published a book, ‘The Struggle for Freedom’ which covers English and Australian constitutional history. This book sold 10,000 copies in its first year. In 1904 Murdoch left Warrnambool to take up a lecturing position in English at the University of Melbourne. He went on to become the foundation Professor of English at the University of Western Australia and later its Chancellor. Murdoch University in Western Australia is named after him. Murdoch became a household name in Australia through his radio broadcasts and syndicated articles and literary columns in several Australian newspapers. During his lifetime Murdoch published over 40 works and he was knighted in 1964. This book is of interest as one written by Walter Murdoch who not only is important in Australian literature and academic circles but also has his place in Warrnambool’s history. This is a hard cover book of 209 pages. The cover is green with black printing and has an image of a quill outlined in black. The spine is much faded. The book contains a Preface and 28 short essays. The inside cover and the edges of the pages are stained. walter murdoch, warrnambool college (early 20th century), history of warrnambool

This book has been written by Walter Murdoch, the distinguished Australian academic and essayist. Walter Murdoch (1874-1970) gained an Arts Degree at the University of Melbourne with first class honours in philosophy and logic. In 1901 Murdoch came to Warrnambool in partnership with James Scott as co-proprietors of the private school, Warrnambool College. They bought out the Warrnambool Grammar School previously run by John Stanley and, when Scott retired, Murdoch became the sole proprietor and headmaster of the school. While he was in Warrnambool Murdoch continued to write for Melbourne newspapers and published a book, ‘The Struggle For Freedom’, covering the constitutional history of Britain and Australia. This book sold 10,000 copies in its first year. In 1904 Murdoch left Warrnambool to take up a position as a lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne. Later he became the foundation Professor of English at the University of Western Australia and later its Chancellor. Murdoch University in Western Australia is named after him. Murdoch became a household name to two generations of Australians through his radio broadcasts and his literary columns in several Australian newspapers. He published over 40 books and was knighted in 1964. This book is of interest as an example of the writings of Walter Murdoch, important not only in the history of Australian literature but also of note in the history of Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book of 195 pages. The cover is orange with red lettering and an image of a mountain (on an island?). The spine is a little faded. The book contains a Preface and 21 short essays containing thoughts concerning Australia in the early years of World War Two. walter murdoch, history of warrnambool, warrnambool college (early 20th century)

This book subtitled, ‘A Story of the Amazing Ability and Fidelity of an Australian Black Tracker’, has been written in the late 1930s by Edward Daniel Oakley (1877-1962). He was the fourth child of Thomas and Eliza Oakley who had the farm, Oakbank, near the mouth of the Hopkins River, Warrnambool (Otway Road area today). Edward Oakley first worked at Saltau’s shipping office in Warrnambool then ran a dairy farm, Halifax, near Cudgee. He later had wheat farms in the Grampians area and at Willaura before returning to Warrnambool in 1923. He built a row of shops in Liebig Street and opened a boot and shoe store. He was instrumental in persuading Fletcher Jones to open a shop in Warrnambool. After he retired he researched and wrote the story of Jimmy of Murrumbar. This book is of high significance because: 1. It was written by a local Warrnambool businessman, Edward Oakley. He and other members of his family were prominent residents of the city in the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries 2. It was written in the late 1930s and tells of the story of a young aboriginal boy, one of the early writings appreciating the talents and worth of young aborigines. This is a hard cover book of 181 pages. A buff-coloured dust cover has been pasted over the hard cover and it has a black, grey and white illustration of a young aboriginal boy being chased. This illustration is repeated in black and white on the second page. The titling on the cover is in red and black printing. The front cover has become almost detached from the pages. An inscription on the inside cover is handwritten in black ink. The book has a foreword, an appreciation, a contents page and 23 chapters. ‘Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday from Graeme Dorman Dec 8th 1942’ edward oakley, history of warrnambool, aboriginal literature, jimmy of murrumbar, thomas and eliza oakley

This book has the sub-title: ‘A Complete Guide to the Table, the Toilette and the Ball Room with hints on Courtship, Music and Manners’. It was sold in Warrnambool at the book shop of C. & R. Lavery. They were early Warrnambool settlers and opened their bookselling and newsagent business in 1877. The shop was in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. This book is of interest as an example of the type of book produced in the late 19th century as an instructional manual for men in the area of manners and etiquette. It is also of interest because it was sold by a local bookstore in Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book of 184 pages. The cover is green with black lines on the cover edges and the titles printed in black lettering. The book has several pages at the front and the back giving information on other books produced by the same publisher (Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co.). These advertisements are accompanied by black and white illustrations. The book has an introduction and 24 sections on etiquette for men for various places and occasions. Each section starts with an ornamental first letter in black and white. The book cover has partly come apart from the pages and the cover is somewhat stained and very faded on the spine. Several of the pages at the back are torn and stained with some of the text missing. There is a label with the sellers’ information pasted on to the back of the front cover. ‘C. & R. Lavery Booksellers Koroit Street Warrnambool’ lavery family, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This collection of short stories by Mary Gaunt has been edited and published by Bronwen Hickman. Mary Gaunt (1861-1942) was a writer of novels, travel books, short stories and other articles. She was known internationally for her writings in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Born in Chiltern, Victoria, she was the first woman to study at Melbourne University, travelled extensively in West Africa and China in areas rarely visited by white women and published 26 books. From 1894 to 1900 Mary Gaunt lived in Warrnambool where her husband, Hubert Lindsay Miller, was a local doctor. Some of her writings were produced while she was in Warrnambool and some have local content. This book, although a modern reprint, is important as the only collection of the short stories of the internationally-known author, Mary Gaunt that we have in our collection. Mary Gaunt not only lived and wrote in Warrnambool for some years but also used local places, people and events in her writings. One of the stories in ‘Life at Deadman’s’ (‘The Humbling of Sergeant Mahone’) is based on the events in the late 19th century when whisky was being made illegallyin the Nirranda district. Mary Gaunt apparently had met the real main character in this saga. This is a soft cover book of 178 pages. The cover is yellow with an image in sepia tones of Mary Gaunt. The lettering on the front cover and on the spine is green and black. The back cover contains critical comments on Mary Gaunt’s work and information on the editor. The book has a map, an introduction, a list of the sources of the stories, twelve short stories, a list of works by Mary Gaunt and a note on the author by the editor. ‘With Good Wishes Bronwen Hickman’ mary gaunt, dr h.l.miller, whiskey stills in the warrnambool district (19th century), history of warrnambool, australian women writers

This is an early school reader and the name, ‘B. Morris’, suggests that it belonged to Bruce Morris, the editor of the Warrnambool Standard newspaper from 1946 to 1968. Bruce Morris was prominent in Warrnambool as the writer of a great number of historical articles in the Warrnambool Standard and as a passionate supporter of regional Victoria. He was the son of Frederick and Sarah Morris and the grandson of George Lance, prominent in 19th century Warrnambool as a plumber, inventor, musician, artist and writer. Lance is regarded as the founder of the Warrnambool Art Gallery. Bruce Morris helped to establish the Warrnambool Rostrum Club. This book is of interest because it is an early 20th century example of a school reading book. If it belonged to Bruce Morris then it is of greater interest. Bruce Morris rates with Richard Osburne, Edward Vidler and Henri Worland as a significant promoter of, and writer on, Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 16 pages. It has a pinkish-red cover with a black and white illustration of The Three Bears story on the front cover and the titles in black print. The back cover has advertisements for other books by the same publisher (Macmillan and Co.). The inscription and some other writing on the front cover are handwritten in blue ink. The cover is a little faded and has partly come away from the pages. ‘B.Morris’ bruce morris, history of warrnambool

This book was given in 1941 as a prize to Shirley MacDonald from the South Warrnambool Sunday School. This Sunday School was operated by the South Warrnambool Presbyterian Church and existed from 1902 to 2004. The church was in MacDonald Street which was named after John MacDonald, an early teacher and auctioneer in Warrnambool but no details have been found on Shirley MacDonald. This book is of interest as a memento from the South Warrnambool Sunday School and as an example of the type of book given as prizes to young girls in Warrnambool during World War Two. This is a hard cover book of 256 pages. The cover is red with black lettering and the there is a dust cover partly pasted onto the hard cover. The dust cover is multi-coloured with an image of a river scene (man in trouble in the water with a woman trying to help him) on the front and a horse and rider on the spine. The lettering on the dust cover is in yellow and dark blue tonings. The book has become detached from the pages at the back. The inscription is handwritten in blue ink on a printed book plate pasted on to the inside front cover. There is a black and white full page illustration at the front of the book ‘Xmas 1941 Awarded to Shirley MacDonald, Sth Warrnambool Sunday School’ south warrnambool sunday school, shirley macdonald, history of warrnambool

This book, written for girls by the English novelist, Bessie Marchant, was given as a prize to Claire Gilbert. She was the daughter of Roy and Miriam Gilbert and lived in Coulstock Street. Her father worked at Swintons Store in Warrnambool. She would have been at school in the 1940s. She married a farmer, Ainslie Crothers. It is presumed that ‘Y.W.L’ stands for ‘Young Women’s League’, but no Warrnambool group with this name has been found (apart from a Young Women’s Association run by the Presbyterian Church in the 1920s). This book is of interest as it belonged to a local girl, Claire Gilbert, at school in the 1940s. This is a hard cover book of 152 pages with 16 pages at the back giving information on other books published by the same company. The cover is green with the title information enclosed in dark red text boxes with green printing. The spine has red printing with red lines and squares for ornamentation. The inscription is handwritten in black ink on a printed book plate pasted onto the first page. There is a colour plate at the beginning of the story. ‘2nd prize Awarded to Claire Gilbert, Y.W.L., Warrnambool’ claire gilbert, yung women’s league, history of warrnambool

This book is a 19th Century treatise on aids to navigation. It belonged to John Cowtan who held land near the Cassady's Bridge area in Caramut Road today (he was related to the Cassady family) and who is mainly important in the history of Port Fairy. Captain John Cowtan was a ship's master for John Griffiths and a Launceston entrepreneur and ship owner between 1839 and 1844. In 1847 he went into partnership with John Bland, establishing a merchant's business with riverside buildings at the Port Fairy wharf. He left Port Fairy in the 1860s. The date of John Cowtan's signature in this book is 1849 (certainly a very early one in our history) and inside the front cover he has written notes about the local weather, mainly as it affected sailing conditions in late 1849 and early 1850. These notes are of great historical interestThis book is of great interest because it belonged to a Port Fairy historical figure and because of the hand written weather notes inside the front cover. This is a hard covered,leather bound book of 680 pages. It contains printed text, illustrations, tables, maps and sketches.One page is torn Some pages are stained. . J Cowtan 1849john cowtan, port fairy

This book has had two owners – St. Paul’s Anglican Church Allansford and Cecil Snook of Toorak but it is not known who had the book first. Nothing is known of Cecil Snook and the name does not appear to be of local interest. St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Allansford was established in 1882. It became part of the Panmure Parish in 1936 and in 1951 it was transferred to the Warrnambool Parish. This book is of interest as an example of a music book used at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Allansford early in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book containing musical notations and text. The cover is black with embossed lettering and ornamental patterns on the front. The cover has come apart from the binding and has been re-attached with brown tape. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil. There is some scribble on the back page. The cover is torn at the edges and the first and last pages are a little tattered. ‘St. Paul’s Allansford’ ‘All Saints Grammar School, East St. Kilda, Cecil Snook. 2 Baxter Street, Toorak, 11-6-1916’ history of warrnambool, st. paul’s anglican church allansford

This school reader was used by Edmond and Mary Grace at Laang State School. Laang is in the Western District and is eight kilometres from Garvoc and ten kilometres from Panmure. The Laang State School opened in 1875 with a new building being erected in 1876 and additions being added in 1889. The school is now closed. Edmond Morgan Grace was born to William and Mary Grace in 1886 and died in 1953. Mary was his sister. Charles Hider, with his brother James, were early settlers in Warrnambool and both ran book shops in the town. This book is of moderate interest as an example of a late 19th century school reader and as one used at Laang State School by the Grace family. This is a brown hard cover book of 398 pages. The cover has an embossed patterning and lettering. The binding has come apart and has been mended with white adhesive tape. Some pages at the front and back are missing. The book has a contents page and three sections of text. There are many black and white illustrations. The inscription is handwritten in blue ink. The cover is somewhat faded and rubbed and some pages are stained. There is a printed label of the seller of the book pasted onto the inside of the front cover. ‘Edmond M. Grace Laang State School’ ‘Mary Grace Laang S.S.’ ‘C.Hider Opposite Court House Warrnambool’ edmond and mary grace, laang state school, charles and james hider