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 Home of the Blizzard Vol 2 Being the Story of the Australian Antartic Expedition 1911 - 1915 Author: Douglas Mawson Publisher: William Heinemann Date: 1915Label on spine cover with typed text 919.9 MAW Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Librarywarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, the home of the blizzard vol 2

The article was written by Linley Hartley on the reminiscences of Lorraine Coates (nee Poulter) of her life in Greensborough. There are a lot of references to her ancestral families, particularly the Poulters and also the Roys and Hewitts. The article also refers to Lorraine's family activities during World War 2 in Richmond.Poulters, Roys and Hewitts were all local pioneer families.An A3 sized photocopy of a Diamond Valley News story. Includes photograph of Lorraine Coates and two scenes of 'old' Greensborough. Copy 2 of Item 177.Some minor biro marks

Possibly Portland City Council Collection.Laminated poster with illustration of a steam ship with sails, bearing name of prow "Admella". Bottom third of image has story of event in hand-written text.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)

The article was written by Linley Hartley on the reminiscences of Lorraine Coates (nee Poulter) of her life in Greensborough. There are a lot of references to her ancestral families, particularly the Poulters and also the Roys and Hewitts. The article also refers to Lorraine's family's activities during World War 2 in Richmond.Poulters, Roys and Hewitts were all local pioneer families.An A3 sized photocopy of a Diamond Valley News story. Includes photograph of Lorraine Coates and two scenes of 'old' Greensborough. Copy 2: Item 522.Some minor biro markspoulter, hewitt, roy, greensborough, lorraine coates, richmond, st helena cemetary

This is a book of photographs published by Cassell & Co. by arrangement with the Government of the Commonwealth. The profits from sales were devoted to the Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Fund. This item is a useful research tool on the history of World War 1.A 192 pp magazine publication in eight parts. It is titled "Australia in the Great War - The Story Told in Pictures". It has a mottled purple cover with purple binding.

Saint-Omer is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department 68 km west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area. (Wikipedia) During World War I on 8 October 1914, the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) arrived in Saint-Omer and a headquarters was established at the aerodrome next to the local race course. For the following four years, Saint-Omer was a focal point for all RFC operations in the field. Although most squadrons only used Saint-Omer as a transit camp before moving on to other locations, the base grew in importance as it increased its logistic support to the RFC. Many Royal Air Force squadrons can trace their roots to formation at Saint-Omer during this period. Among which are No. IX Squadron RAF which was formed at Saint-Omer, 14 December 1914 and No. 16 Squadron RAF which was formed on 10 February 1915. (Wikipedia)Black and white postcard showing a group of children and some adults surrounding a horse drawn cart. The cobble stone street is lined with double story buildings. chatham-holmes family collection, saint-omer, world war, world war 1, postcard

Soft covered booklet titled The town that moved, the story of Tallangatta 1951 - 1956, 24 page with black and white photographs, printed by Thomsons printing Albury.Harold Craigvictoria, history, tallangatta, history-victoria-tallangatta

An unpublished draft of the story of Fizelle & Mulqueen, funeral directors in Bridge St, Bendigo. Several A4 photocopied pages of text and photos, held together with a clip.Peter Mulqueenfizelle & mulqueen

''Children's Stories and Poems'' by Lucy Hill (or 'Aunt Evelyn' - pen-name of Lucy Hill). These are presumably cuttings published in the Bendigo Advertiser (ca. 1922, 1923)Bendigo Advertiserperson, individual, lucy hill, journalist, advertiser, aunt evelyn, the centenary song, gravel hill state school, in the spot light, an unexpected achievement, bendigo.

National Trust Central Victorian Branch"Local Focus" Issue 1 July 1991. Includes story about saving "37 Wills Street Bendigonational trust, properties, osmaston 37 wills street, national trust central victorian branch

Slide. Bendigo Views. A crowd of people in front of a two story building, possibly the original Mt. Alvernia. There are two cars in the picture and in the foreground is a man with a bicycle.slide, bendigo, bendigo views, bendigo views

naïve art, outsider artRural City of Wangaratta Collection, Wangaratta Art Prize 1977.An oil painting that tells the story of the bushranger Mad Dog Morgan, painted in the naïve art style using a colour palette of blue, brown, orange, and red.wangaratta art gallery, tony convey, naïve art, outsider art, mad dog morgan, painting, bushranger

Red hardcover book of short stories 340 pages. Many were stained due to wear and age. The spine is damaged. Contains black and white illustrations

Advertising sign for the Physician Blankets Manufactured by Collins Bros Pty Ltd. Black and white photograph showcasing the Physician Blanket advertising road sign above a two story building in a landscape format. The road and moving cars are in the foreground.Front centre - Physician Chillproof Blankets. Sign Rear - Physician Brisbane (?) (?) Signwool, woollen mills, wool manufacture

Graham Hudson (Righetti) and Clare Gervasoni at the launch of "Bullboar, Macaroni and Mineral Water: Spa Country's Swiss and Italian Story" at the Pantechnicon Art Gallery, Daylesford.swiss/italian, swiss and italian, clare gervasoni, graham hudson, bullboar, macaroni and mineral water

Graham Hudson (Righetti) and Clare Gervasoni at the launch of "Bullboar, Macaroni and Mineral Water: Spa Country's Swiss and Italian Story" at the Pantechnicon Art Gallery, Daylesford.swiss/italian, swiss and italian, clare gervasoni, graham hudson

Jon Stevens and Cr Heather Mutimer at the launch of "Bullboar, Macaroni and Mineral Water: Spa Country's Swiss and Italian Story" at the Pantechnicon Art Gallery, Daylesford.swiss/italian, swiss and italian, clare gervasoni, jon stevens, heather mutimer, bullboar

newspaper laminated, for example, has news printed stories and photographs about the end of the war with a small tear on one side on four pages with single centrefold.Headline: IT'S ALL OVER/ Japan Accepts Allied Termsnewspapers, military press, 1945, japanese surrender, wwii, second world war, world war two

A hardcovered book titled 'Our Darlings' the Children's Treasury of Pictures & Stories. London. John F Shaw & Co, 48 Paternoster Row. 425 Pages.John F Shaw & Cobook, childrens' picture story book

Newspaper photo of the Golden Square (Laurel St.) Primary School Netball Team and their coach, Gayle Owen. Story by Shane Rodda, Sports Co-ordinator.Shane Roddaeducation, primary, golden square laurel st p.s., golden square primary school 1189 collection - newspaper cuttings, shane rodda, golden square (laurel st.) primary school netball team, golden city saturday morning netball competition, kangaroo flat priamry school, gayle owen

B&W Photograph of Janine Ballantyne, Soprano ''See ARTS BENDIGO Story for Council Sept. 16'' with sundy annotation. Head and torso photo of artist.

Book: 'Tha Phantom Drive and Other Stories of Lawn Tennis'. 237 pages. Hardcover. No edition information (Copyright 1924). Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboardtennis

Book: 'Playing For Life. Billy Talbert's Story'. 310 pages. Hardcover, no dustjacket. First edition, secont print. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Gluetennis

This book was produced as part of a raft of community projects under the umbrella of COWCH (City of Whitehorse Community Houses) with funding from the federal government. Projects aimed to celebrate the Centenary of Federation by recording a broad base of aspects of life and experience in Whitehorse drawn from a cross-section of ordinary members of the community. The steering committee for the book worked with the management of the Vermont South Community House - Marjorie Morgan, Carol Pawsey, Val Eldridge, Sue Barnett, Anne Jones, Margaret Banks and Murray Lewis (editor).A collection of stories contributed either as written memoirs or drawn from oral histories that reflect the ways in which the contributors have been associated with the City of Whitehorse. Title page: stamp top right hand corner :Surrey Hills/ Neighbourhood Centre / 157 Union Road; Hand written note "Gifted to Sue Slonek/by Sue Barnett/ Sept. 2012; stamp: Surrey Hills History - top of page.whitehorse, (ms) susan barnett, (ms) susan johns, (mr) arthur tonkin, (mrs) kathleen beanland, (mrs) nancye gration, (mr) norman kerr, (mr) murray lewis, tara cameron, andy hannam, christine howarth, danielle burgess, yeek hoon tija, ian grandy, frances warren, jessie williams, joan nethercote, joyce kotze, john pawsey, hope hughes, thelma osborn, margaret sharp, merle forrest, catherine jenkins, ted o'rourke, judy gordon, george ellis, rene stevens, albert stevens, jessie barnes, mary roberts, howard broadstock, valda broadstock, nelliesutherland, jean johnson, evan walker, joan roberts, pat nitz, joan crummy, patrick crummy, ray stanfield, plaatjien braaf, kath ferrugia, noelene whitaker, margaret wood, phyllis johnson, marie stubbs, eileen pearson, jennifer o'sullivan, joy edwards, virginia burns, walter thompson, mae buckingham