The Volunteers Air Observers was formed in 1941 with the aim of observing aircraft flying over Australia. There were over 24000 civilians volunteering their services and as the military threat to Australia subsided they took on roles as coast and weather watching. This photograph shows a group of local volunteers at their work. Mrs. S Hamilton, Mrs. J Lees, F/O E F English, Mrs. R Picton, Mr. Ralph Barnes and Miss S McDonaldA local item which relates to an organization which operated around Australia in the 1940’s. Small newspaper cutting with photograph with six people around a table. Text is underneath the photo. The back has an advertisement for Fletcher Jones clothingThe picture shows a control room manned by volunteer personnel. Here the plotters are marking positions of aircraft with symbols on a map of the surrounding district while the Teller in the raised chair sends reports on to the Air Force, which thus has a check of all planes left to right Mrs. S Hamilton, Mrs. J Lees, F/O E F English, Mrs. R Picton, Mr. Ralph Barnes and Miss S McDonald volunteer air observers corps,, volunteer air observers corps,, mrs. s hamilton,, mrs. j lees,, f/o e f english, mrs. r picton, mr. ralph barnes, miss s mcdonald warrnambool

This certificate is an invitation to the Evening Reception in Melbourne in 1901, an event which was part of the celebrations in Melbourne to commemorate the Federation of the six colonies into the six States of Australia in January 1901. The certificate was sent to the invitees after the event as a souvenir of the occasion. The certificate was designed by the artists Julian and Howard Ashton and lithographed and issued by Sands and McDougall Limited of Melbourne. This particular certificate was sent to George Rolfe and his wife Annie. George Rolfe (1836-1919), a tea merchant from Melbourne, began buying blocks of land near the mouth of the Hopkins River in the 1870s. By the early 1880s he had acquired 50 acres of land in the town and several nearby farming properties. He used the buildings on the land at the mouth of the River Hopkins as holiday accommodation and called this property Lyndoch. Rolfe improved this property adding stables, jetty, boathouse, bone and chaff sheds, reservoir and windmill and extensive gardens. Rolfe spent most of his later life at Lyndoch. Today the property is the site of an Aged Care Facility. This certificate is of considerable importance for two reasons: 1. It is an attractive and valuable memento of a signal event in Australia’s history – the Federation of the States in 1901. 2. The certificate was an invitation to Mr and Mrs George Rolfe. Rolfe was a prominent person in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is a multi-coloured certificate mounted on a piece of grey cardboard. The certificate is highly embossed and has a figure of Britannia in a red dress and a mailed vest holding a shield with the Union Jack emblem. Britannia is extending her hand to a figure of a younger woman representing Australia. This figure is dressed in blue and holds a shield which has a blue cross with white stars. The borders have vines and vine leaves and the Royal Crest is at the base of the certificate. The names of the invitees are handwritten in black ink. ‘In Celebration of the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, To Meet Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, His Majesty’s Ministers of State for Australia have the honor to invite Mr & Mrs G. Rolfe to an Evening Reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne on the 9th of May 1901, at 8 0’clock’. george rolfe of lyndoch, warrnambool, federation of australia, history of warrnambool, george rolfe

Handkerchiefs have been used for centuries as a piece of cloth deemed useful for personal hygiene. They are usually kept in one's pocket but at times through history have been fluttered to attract attention or send a message. In harder times they proved to be a cheap item often used to add interest to an outfit. This item is one of five handkerchiefs which were brought back from France after WW1 by great uncles of Gloria Redman and have been passed down through her grandmother and mother.This item has significance as an item linked to a local family and World War 1 and as such has social, and historical significance. It is well provenanced and can be used to provide interest to the relating of a fairly common story whereby many soldiers brought or sent back small items such as handkerchiefs to their loved ones at home.White linen painted with an image of a lady in red crinoline dress with black lined pattern around bottom of dress. Three blue birds on the left side.and surrounded by semicircles of flowers around bottom half of hankerchief. Bordered with pink printed line and hemmed in green stitching.warrnambool,, world war 1 hankerchief, printed silk hankerchief, redman hankerchief, crinoline lady hankerchief

This ledger relates to the property Kenilworth which is situated near Cavendish, 16 miles from Hamilton on the Wannon River. It was taken up by Thomas Norris in 1839 and originally carried 800 cattle and 20000 sheep on 63000 acres. By 1858 it was in the hands of John Mackersey and Thomas Bostock. In 1859 it belonged outright to John Mackersey who was there until 1870. He was considered a worthy son of a Presbyterian minister and was well regarded in the district for his contributions in church, sport and sheep breeding... However he did not do well and lost the property before going to New Zealand in 1870. These journals provide a yearly record of flock, harvest and yields along with income details. It also provides details relating to rentals, selections and purchases during the era from squatting to freehold land. This journal provides a detailed view of matters relating to the business of sheep farming. It records purchases and stock sold, wool clips, lambs, sheep losses and different breeds. Kenilworth was a significant property in the Western District of Victoria and it dates from a period of early settlement in Victoria.Dark green hard cover with gold lettering. Both covers have in gold lettering: John Mackersey1826-1892 Stock Book 1857-1870. One cover has Horses and cattle and the other, sheep. It is a facsimile copy. The two sections are divided by a green sheet of paper. Acknowledgements to The State Government of Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Hamilton History Centre, Dr G Handbury AO, Margaret Gardiner, Godfrey and Margaret Mackersey, L Alan Brumley, M P Heuval. john mackersey, thomas bostock, thomas norris, kenilworth, history of warrnambool

This diary relates to the property Kenilworth which is situated near Cavendish, 16 miles from Hamilton on the Wannon River. It was taken up by Thomas Norris in 1839 and originally carried 800 cattle and 20000 sheep on 63000 acres. By 1858 it was in the hands of John Mackersey and Thomas Bostock. In 1859 it belonged outright to John Mackersey who was there until 1870. He was considered a worthy son of a Presbyterian minister and was well regarded in the district for his contributions in church, sport and sheep breeding... However he did not do well and lost the property before going to New Zealand in 1870.This diary has detailed entries over a number of years which provides an insight into life in the 1860’s. It has a significance for Warrnambool as John Mackersey and Augustus Bostock were at one stage business partners.Hard green cover with gold lettering. 534 pages of facsimile copied diary entries. The entries date from 1857 to 1867. Acknowledgements to The State Government of Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Hamilton History Centre, Dr G Handbury AO, Margaret Gardiner, Godfrey and Margaret Mackersey, L Alan Brumley, M P Heuval.john mackersey, thomas norris, kenilworth, warrnambool history

John Mackersey farmed the property Kenilworth which is situated near Cavendish, 16 miles from Hamilton on the Wannon River. It was taken up by Thomas Norris in 1839 and originally carried 800 cattle and 20000 sheep on 63000 acres. By 1858 it was in the hands of John Mackersey and Thomas Bostock. In 1859 it belonged outright to John Mackersey who was there until 1870. He was considered a worthy son of a Presbyterian minister and was well regarded in the district for his contributions in church, sport and sheep breeding... However he did not do well and lost the property before going to New Zealand in 1870. This diary contains entries for the latter part of that period as well as entries from his time in New Zealand.This journal provides an insight into early settlement in the Western District of Victoria.Dark green hard cover with gold lettering on front cover. 210 Pages. Title page has photograph of diarist and period of entries. 10 Mar 1867- 6 Apr 1875. The pages are a copy of handwritten entries in his original diary.Acknowledgements to The State Government of Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Hamilton History Centre, Dr G Handbury AO, Margaret Gardiner, Godfrey and Margaret Mackersey, L Alan Brumley, M P Heuval. john mackersey, thomas norris, thomas bostock, kenilworth, warrnambool history

John Mackersey farmed the property Kenilworth which is situated near Cavendish, 16 miles from Hamilton on the Wannon River. It was taken up by Thomas Norris in 1839 and originally carried 800 cattle and 20000 sheep on 63000 acres. By 1858 it was in the hands of John Mackersey and Thomas Bostock. In 1859 it belonged outright to John Mackersey who was there until 1870. He was considered a worthy son of a Presbyterian minister and was well regarded in the district for his contributions in church, sport and sheep breeding. However he did not do well and lost the property before going to New Zealand in 1870. This publication contains the typed transcripts of his journals, stock books.A significant collection of documentation of one of Western Victorian earliest settlers, depicting many aspects of life at that time.Dark blue hard cover with gold lettering on front cover and spine. It is a typed copy of the original handwritten journals. There are seven sections each separated by a title sheet of blue paper. Acknowledgements to The State Government of Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Hamilton History Centre, Dr G Handbury AO, Margaret Gardiner, Godfrey and Margaret Mackersey, L Alan Brumley, M P Heuval. john mackersey, kenilworth, thomas norris, thomas bostock, warrnambool history

The Nestle factory at Dennington was commenced in 1907 and proved to be a big boost to the local economy. The first product manufactured was sweetened condensed milk which began in 1911 and by 1944 was the largest plant in the Southern Hemisphere. They went on to produce Lactogen, full cream milk powder and in 1966 Milo and Nescafe. On average up to 650 people were employed. Nestle relinquished their link with the site when it was sold to Fonterra in 2005. A link to one of the longest established businesses in Warrnambool. Many people supplied milk and it employed many local people and as such has strong links to the district. White china cup with black transfer of Dennington factory and dates in black.Dennington factory 100 years 1911-2011nestle dennington, history of warrnambool, nestle milk products dennington

The Criterion Hotel was located on the western side of Kepler Street near the corner of Lava Street. John Tate of Woodford was the first licensee of the Criterion Hotel in 1873. The Humm family and the McGennan families were licensees for a considerable amount of time in the late 19th and 20th centuries. It was one of the last venues in the town to host live music. The last publican, John Palmer remembered it as a workers pub popular with local truckies and football clubs, in particular, Bushfield, Russell’s Creek and South Rovers. The Criterion closed in 2008 with the aim of turning it into office space but it was burnt beyond repair in 2010 and the remains were demolished in 2013.The Criterion Hotel was one of the earliest and longest licensed hotels in Warrnambool. As such it has local historical significance. The original building was an impressive landmark and the hotel itself has significant social importanceWhite plaster fragment with floral pattern enclosed within two plain borders. It is roughly five sided but edges are broken.criterion hotel, history of warrnambool, warrnambool hotels

Tool used to carry plaster sheets on the ledge at the bottom.A handmade tool used locally.Metal tool with heart shaped handle and spade shaped base with right angled edge on the bottom. Weld join near bottom. Painted in silver. plaster sheet carrier, plaster tool

This booklet aims to give a brief outline of Port Fairy’s history for the benefit of visitors. Port Fairy was an early sealing and whaling town with white settlement established by 1836. As the port and shipping declined so did the town until its reinvigoration in the mid 20th century as a tourist town and the home of the annual Port Fairy Folk FestivalThe book is of use as a quick reference to Port Fairy history.This is a booklet of 48 pages. It contains printed material, black and white photographs and a map. The front cover has a black and white image of the Port Fairy lighthouse. Front Cover: ‘Life Before Folkie, A Visitors’ History of Port Fairy, David R. Jones’port fairy, david r. jones

Elmac Hydroponics operated at Allansford from 1997 to 2004, growing tomatoes hydoponically. The owners were Keith Ellerton and Graeme MacLeod. There were 2000 Square metres of hothouses with over 5000 plants. This trophy from the Victorian farm Entrepreneur Awards was for the use of a system called autopots. This system relied upon a process of automatic watering through valves at the bottom of the pots.The growing of vegetables hydoponically was a relatively new and innovative system of agriculture. The Elmac business proved that it could be done in the climate of the region. Timber shield shape with bevelled edge, painted dark maroon with engraved brass metal plaque.Victorian Farm Entrepreneur Awards 1999 Regional Winner South West Elmac Hydoponicsallansford, elmac, keith ellerton, graeme mcleod, elmac tomatoes, victorian farm entrepreneur awards 1999.

Music folio for Senior students. This music folio is an example of studies in music at the beginning of the 20th century. Cream light card cover with title page in various texts in black. Pale red stylised border around text. Back cover has information regarding different grade levels in music. 36 Pages. Pages hand stitched in cotton with cotton cloth binding. Loose brown paper cover.V.E. Adams handwritten in top RH corner of brown paper cover. pianoforte studies and exercises, no 129, gordon saunders

In 1923 there were plans to form a swimming club at Noorat. The club intended to erect a jetty and sheds at the north end of Lake Keilambete. It also proposed teaching school children to swim.The badge came from Murray Murfett a Warrnambool Council employee. It came from his father’s property in Terang in 2014. Cream circular metal badge with red lettering. Illustration of diver and water. 89 lake keilambete, noorat swimming club, 1938.

This is a digital copy of a photograph of Cecil, Gladys and Susan Vedmore on the occasion of Susan's debut. The Vedmore family set up the Vedmore Trust to provide funds for financially disadvantaged families in South West Victoria. This item is retained because of the Vedmore family's association with a local trust.This is a digital copy of a black and white photograph of a father in a suit and tie, his daughter in her debutante frock and her mother dressed in formal wear.vedmore trust, cecil vedmore, gladys vedmore, susan vedmore

This cookery book was produced in 2014 as a school fundraiser. It was purchased at Allansford Cheese World in January 2015 for $15. Allansford school was established as a National School in 1856 on land reserved for the purpose by John McMahon Allan. It comprised two sandstone classrooms -one for boys and one for girls -with an attached pise teacher's residence. In 1872 when the Victorian Education Department was set up existing schools were listed in alphabetical order and given a number. Allansford State School was No.3. The school was enlarged in the late 1800s and again in the early 1920s. In 1994 following the amalgamation of the Allansford, Allans Forest and Naringal schools a new school was built which adjoined the existing buildings. The old buildings were refurbished as administration and staff facilities. John McMahon Allan settled in the area in 1839 with his brother William Osborne Allan. They were the sons of David Allan, Deputy Commissary General during Macquarie's term of government. The brothers divided the station with William retaining the Allandale portion and John naming his portion Tooram. John McMahon Allan was president of the early district Roads Board. In an attempt to recoup some of the heavy losses due to the disastrous Bateman fire of 1854 John subdivided a portion of Tooram at the Hopkins River crossing known as Allans ford. A school reserve was included in this subdivision. Source: McLeod, Graeme & Barbara. Allansford 1855-2006This book has social and historical interest and significance as it is connected to a local school. It provides a snapshot of food and cooking methods in the early 21st cebturyCookery book with full colour cover featuring 8 photographs and drawings of the Allansford Primary School surrounds and pupil activities on. The images are 'stitched' together with a white zig-zag diamond pattern as if a quilt. The foldout cover has an image of the school's centenary memorial gates and a brief history of the school. Inside the foldout are images of the pupils in each of the school's four team houses. The foldout back cover has full colour images of pupils performing at the school concert. A white strip noting 'our values' is included on the inside back cover foldout. Soft cover, 112 pages.allansford school, a ton of class, allansford primary school, a ton of class recipe book

Prescription box from H London Pharmacy with pale yellow label A photocopy of the prescription relating to this box is stored with it.h london, warrnambool chemist, prescription box, london chemist warrnambool

This padlock has been made by Jacksons Locks which is one of Australia’s oldest lock makers. Francis Jackson established the business in 1883 in Launceston, Tasmania and established a reputation for skilled craftsmanship and durable products. It is not known how the Historical Society acquired the item or who owned it,This lock has no known local connection but it is of interest as an example of an early lock. It may have been used to lock a sea trunk or an office building or a safe.This is a brass padlock in a half oval shape with a keyhole in the front and the locking mechanism at the top. This is open and there is no key with the item.Front of lock: ‘Jacksons’jacksons locks, tasmania, padlock

These bolts have no known history but may have been used for attachment to railway sleepers or parts of a ship or used in roofing.These bolts are of interest only as antiquarian objects showing the types of nails or bolts used in a previous time. They may be useful for display.These are two large nails or bolts made of iron with a square knob on the top. There is some oxidisation and both bolts are slightly bent out of shape.bolts, nails

These visiting cards have been commercially produced for those who have suffered a bereavement and wish to leave a visiting card when calling on friends, business acquaintances etc. They would have been used in the 19th century and up to about the 1930s. These cards have no known provenance but are of interest because they are a good example of bereavement customs a hundred years ago and earlier. These are two packs of visiting cards, white with black borders. They are made of lightweight card and enclosed in an open cardboard envelope and these are further contained in another cardboard envelope. Originally the envelopes contained 50 cards each but there are now 49 in one box and 41 in the other. The boxes are white with black and white printing and ornamental decorations. On front and back of box – ’50 Extra Superfine Queens Thin Ivory Black Bordered Visiting Cards’ bereavement customs, visiting cards

This is a souvenir of the British Empire Exhibition of 1925. This exhibition, designed to showcase the industrial and natural resources of the countries in the British Empire was on a 216 acre site at Wembley, England. In 1923 the Wembley Stadium was completed and the F.A. Cup Final was held there. In 1924 the Exhibition was opened by King George V in a first ever radio broadcast by a British monarch. There were Palaces of Industry, Engineering, Horticulture and Art and Pavilions housing exhibits from most countries in the British Empire. 17 million people visited in 1923 and there were 11 million visitors in 1925 when the exhibiton was re-developed. Wembley Stadium was reconstructed in 2002. This item has no local provenance but is of some interest because of its connection to the British Empire Exhibition of 1925. It is a good example of the type of souvenir that was bought by visitors to the Exhibition. This is an enamelled metal container, circular (octagonal on the outside edges) in shape with a short handle. The central area is slightly recessed to take a small amount of rouge (a red powder compound for the face, usually the cheeks). A pad to apply the rouge to the face is missing. There is a metal hinged lid with a clip and a small ring at the end of the handle, possibly to contain a chain for it to hang around the neck. The wording on the front is black on a blue and green enamelled backgroundRaised image of a lion with the words underneath ‘British Empire Exhibition, 1925’rouge holder, british empire exhibition 1925

The Heytesbury Settlement Scheme in the area west of Colac and bordering the Otway Ranges. The Settlement was established in 1960 as a dairying area and was one of the largest post World War Two farming settlements. This cow tag has been broken at the top and detached from the animal.The item is of some interest as coming from the Heytesbuty Settlement. Dairying is of major importance in the Warrnambool area and this extends to the Heytesbury area. These cow tags have now been superseded by more improved technological equipment. This is a brass cow tag. It is semi-circular with a ring top, broken or worn through at the top. ‘1292’ ‘Heytes East’ heytesbury settlement scheme, cow tag

These nails have no provenance but may have been used to hang pictures or as studs for farm buildings etc. Limited significance but typical of nails previously in regular use.These are 13 large iron nails. Two of them are shorter than the others and have a top with a brass edging and a white oval shaped inset of porcelain or enamel material. Eleven of them have an iron top. ‘Coop’s Latest’nails, warrnambool history

In value the penny was the second smallest denominator in the old imperial currency in Australia in the mid 20th century (halfpenny was the smallest). Decimal currency was introduced in 1966 and the two cent coin was the second lowest in value. It was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 but it is still legal tender in some circumstances. This coin was minted in the first year of decimal currency in Australia. The dollar note was introduced in 1966 and it in turn was replaced in 1984 by the dollar coin. These coins are kept as mementoes of notes and coins no longer in use and are therefore of historical interest. 000496.1 Australian decimal currency bank note: $1 note 000496.2 Australian decimal currency coin: 2c 000496.3 Australian pre-decimal currency coin: 1 penny The one dollar notes are orange, yellow, black and white in colour. They have images of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Australian Coat of Arms on one side and aboriginal motifs on the other side. The metal two cent coin has the Queen’s head on one side and an image of a frilled lizard on the other. The metal penny has the Queen’s head on one side and a kangaroo image on the other.One dollar note- numbers CJA 061539 and CEU 647543 Two cent coin: Elizabeth 11, Australia 1966 One penny: Australia, Penny, 1962 australian currency, australian decimal currency, pre-decimal currency in australia

This magazine lists events and exhibitions which are current at this time. The events listed range from an interview with a local artist to exhibitions, designer of the month, public programs, and Sunday musicA record of current events and some of the people involved in the Warrnambool Art Gallery. 14 page magazine. Cover is black and white with some orange highlights. Most of the pages are printed in colour. Back cover is orange.warrnambool history, warrnambool art gallery 2014, warrnambool wag

The foundation stone of the Scots Church Ellerslie was laid by Mrs Jemima Vans Robertson on 1st November 1870. She was the leader and benefactor of the church. Worship services were held in the church for the next 145 years. The Sunday School was started in1871 and until 1977 Ellerslie was part of the Framlingham Presbyterian Charge. The PFA for young people was very active in the 1950s and 60s. Since 1977 the Ellerslie church has been part of the Uniting Church in Australia and was an integral part of the Mortlake Parish. The church closed in 2014 and marked for sale. This program is of some interest as it gives us a short history of Scots Church in Ellerslie and tells of its closure in 2014. This is a program for the closing of Scots Church Ellerslie (2014). It has five double pages with printed material and colour photographs. The pages are stapled together.Front Cover: Uniting Church in Australia, Scots Church Ellerslie 1870-2014 Formerly Presbyterian, Closing Service, 1.30 p.m. Sunday 7th December 2014ellerslie, scots church, presbyterian church, uniting church

This is a novel written by Ethel Patricia Stonehouse under the name of Lindsay Russell. She was born in Nhill in 1883 and was educated at Charlton State School. From 1894 on she wrote verse and short stories and worked as a journalist in Melbourne. She published her first novel in Melbourne in 1912 and lived for a time in London where she met Dr John Scott whom she married in 1914. After the First World War she came to live at Mortlake and her novel writing ceased. Most of her novels are about women rebelling –against Catholicism, Calvinism, the English class system and the restraints of marriage. Her railings against the Catholic Church and the oppression of women caused her to be a controversial figure, especially in Mortlake, but she was a popular novelist with one of her books, ‘Smouldering Fires’, selling over 100,000 copies in Australia alone. She died in 1964. No details on the inscription or the recipient of the book, ‘Isie’ have been found. The name, ‘Glasgow’ suggests that the book at some stage was connected with the Glasgow family of Wangoom. They were important local dairy farmers and cheese makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This book is of great interest because it was written by an Australian woman and one who lived for many years in Mortlake, a town close to Warrnambool. The connection with the Glasgow family is also of interest. This is a hard cover book of 320 pages. The book has a dark blue cover with gold lettering on the front cover and spine and some gold scroll work on the front cover. The book has a Prologue and 22 chapters and contains advertisements at the front and the back of the book for other books published by Ward, Lock & Co. There is a black and white illustration at the front of the book with a piece of tissue paper covering it. The page at the front of the book that contains an inscription is detached. The inscription and another annotation are written in black ink. The cover is partly detached from the pages and the cover is marked and worn. ‘To Isie Wishing her many happy returns of the day From Father, 15-9-14’ ‘Glasgow’ lindsay russell, ethel stonehouse, history of mortlake, australian literature, warrnambool history

This book is a Yangery State School book owned by Tom Johnston in 1896. Yangery State School was established as a National School in 1858 with George McKay as the first head teacher. In 1909 the name was changed to Illowa and it was closed in 1970. We do not have many historical items that are associated with the old Yangery school. The Johnston family was associated with the Tower Hill/ Illowa area from the 1850s. " Sea View" was occupied by the McCullough family in the early 20th century.This book is retained because of its relationship with the Yangery State School and the Johnston family.This is a soft covered book of 118 pages. The cover is red cloth with black printing. The book contains printed material and some sketches and maps.It is dog eared, tattered and stained.It is much scribbled on the inside covers.Tom E Johnston Yangery State School No. 690 February 8th 96 T E Johnston Sea View Ilowa T.E Johnston Tower Hill tom johnston, yangery state school, tower hill, illowa

This book is one of the series of Royal Readers (Scotland) introduced into schools in Victoria in 1877 to replace the Irish Readers. They were in use until the 1920s and at first contained mostly British material (as does this copy which has no Australian content and features many articles on animals). By the late 19th century the Royal Readers used in Victoria contained some Australian material and it is presumed that this copy is an early edition. The Bonnett families were associated with farming in the Mepunga area and Jessie Edith Bonnett, the daughter of Frederick Bonnett and Charity Bonnett (nee Phillips) was born in Allansford in 1897. Jessie Bonnett spent her life on the family farm at Mepunga and was the last of the Bonnett families in that area. Mepunga East State School was established in 1886 with Ruth Broadway as the first Head Teacher. It has now closed. This book, though tattered, is of interest as an example of the Royal Readers used by pupils in Victorian schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also important as a book belonging to Jessie Bonnett, a member of the Bonnett family of farmers in the Mepunga area. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society holds in its collection some other items that belonged to Jessie Bonnett, including an important World War One scrapbookThis is a hard cover book of 186 pages. The cover was originally a dark blue-green colour but it is much faded and is now almost detached from the binding. The spine and several pages at the beginning and the end are missing. The text contains many black and white illustrations and some have been coloured in. Some of the pages are torn and stained. There is much scribble on the front and back covers. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink.‘Jessie Edith Bonnett, Mepunga East State School No. 2762’ jessie bonnett, mepunga east state school

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