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. The World Crisis 1915 Author: The Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill First Lord of the Admiralty 1911 to 1915 Publisher: Australasian Publishing Company Ltd Date: 1923Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 940.288 CHU Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp 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 world crisis 1915, the rt. hon. winston s. churchill, winston s. churchill, first lord of the admiralty

Large original plan of an engine of the Lal Lal Iron Company. Note, this item is in fragile condition and can only be viewed exceptional circumstance. Digital image details are available "W. Watson Prectical Mechanical Engineer Draughtsman Windermere St Ballaratw. watson, lal lal, lal lal blast furnace, lal lal iron company, steam engine, lal lal iron company steam engine, plan, engineering drawing

Product of locomotive firebox company - glossy printed brochure Circ 1931. Title 'Syphon Safety from boiler explosions caused by low water' advert for the Thermatic Syphon.document, memo, railway, (x ref 1325.39) locomotive firebox company / thermatic syphon

Notice Of Meeting - The Bendigo Gas Company, Half-yearly general meeting; 9th Aug. 1935. Includes business, Director's Report and Statement. John B. Young, Chairman.organization, public utility, the bendigo gas co.

Scrip Certificate3 for 50 shares for the 'New Red White & Blue Consolidated Company' - No Liability; Sheepshead Reef, Bendigo. A blank certificate with attached butt. Printer: Cambridge Press.person, individual, curnow collection

Directory and Coupon Book issued by the Cooperative Coupon Company. First Edition Bendigo. 36 pages. Includes directory of participanting merchants and coupons. 7 Pall Mall Bendigo

Manilla folder containing financial statements. Assets for realization, Directors Reports, Purchase Whippet Consolidated Shares, Report Geo. A. Pell, Report J.J.Stanistreet - re Company finances.MCCOLL RANKIN & STANISTREETorganization, business, gold mine accounting., mccoll rankin & stanistreet

Object. A single piece of brown coloured rectangular paper chemically treated for preservation with the following printed on it. 'The Colonial Ammunition Company's Ball Cartridge M.H.R. Mark X. 1895'industries, colonial ammunition company, ball cartridge

Stack of Cohns receipts dating from 1893 -96 fastened together. Diverse business houses and companies. Majority have one penny stamp duty stamps attached.bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery

Account form from Australian Swiss Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd, 437-439 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. Date line ends 19 - -. Printed in dark blue.business, printers, cambridge press, cambridge press collection, australian swiss manufacturing company pty ltd, p schaublin & co

Maroon board with yellow and white print. There are four awards/medals mentioned, each of which is underlined with a yellow line. Recipients of awards are listed with Rank, Name and position/company.Honours, awards, decorations:- Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO),Lt Col. A. L. Morrison, MBE Military Cross (MC), Maj E.A. Chitham, Lt P.J. Cosgrove, Military Medal (MM), Pte D.J, Cromb, Cpl C. Hammond, L/Cpl A.G.S. Ochiltree, Cpl A.P.P. Rae, Pte G.D. Salmon, Cpl P Snell, L/Cpl T.R. Whitton, Mention in Dispatches (MID) Pte B.C. Arthur, Pte R.A. Bourne, Sgt T.H, Cross, 2Lt I. Jones, Maj L.J. Lewis, Maj W. MAudio, CDonald, Cpl M.A.G. rose, Maj J.A. Sheldrick, Maj J Mcl. Stewart, Sgt J.S. Vautin9 rar, document.- honours/awards., lt col a.l. morrison, maj e.a. chitham, lt p.j. cosgrove

Document. Letter from Permewan and Co to customers them that Mr. K. Guiney has replaced Mr. T. Fitzpatrick as Manager of the Company. Dated Oct 1st 1915.document, memo, letter.

Document. Apprenticeship Indenture for John Barry with G.F.Pickles and Sons - Carriage Manufacturing Company of Sandhurst. Apprentice as Coach Body Builder,. Dated 5th February 1883, four pages.document, memo, apprenticeship indenture

Three buff coloured envelopes with Frank A Stevenson 62 Honeysuckle Street Bendigo stamped above Bendigo Electronic Company of Australia Pty Ltd, in green a picture of a Scalebuoy.communication, postal, envelope

Views of Victoria No 13. View of Victoria Hill Bendigo taken from Old Chum Hill. North Old Chum, New Chum and Victoria Companies. Mining landscape

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Monday, July 5, 2004. On duty: looking spic and span are these women from the 'Fortuna' L.H.Q. Cartogrphic Company in 1945.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

10 copies of a Medical Research Paper, The Electrical Factor in Metabolism (Section 2) by W.N.Abbott and E.F.Fowler with references to Scalebuoys, printed by Commercial Printing Company Boulcott Avenue Wellington.medical

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from 1999. Specialists: J.H. Abbott and Co. in Market Square, Sandhurst. The company specialised in the manufacture of leather belting, boots and shoes.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

A small 12oz weight made by a British company in West Bromwich called Archibald Kenrick and Sons. This was found by QC Binks whilst he was out metal detecting for gold.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks, archibald kenrick and sons, qc binks, weights.

Document: Agreement between New Deborah Reef Gold Mining Company NL and James McKay & Co., including Angus Mackay, T.E. Wilson, and H.J. Leed, directors.organization, mining, new deborah reef gold mine nl, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet: deborah gold mine nl, goldmining, agreement

Document: McColl, Rankin and Stanistreet - Deborah Extended Gold Mining Company - gold mining lease 11308, Vol. 333, Fol. 054, adjoins Fletcher Street, Bendigo.organization, mining, deborah extended gold mining compan, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet, deborah extended gold mining company, gold mining, lease documents

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, Prospectus of Napoleon Reef Gold Mining Company NL, Napoleon Line of Reefs, Bendigo. 8 pages, book soft cover, 2 diagrams.McColl Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, mining, napoleon reef gold mining co nl, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, prospectus of napoleon reef gold mining company nl, napoleon line of reefs, bendigo

Document. Manilla folder containing - the company's statements at the English Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd. - many letters from various share owners with instructions on where to pay dividends.McColl, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, central nell gwynne`, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, central nell gwynne, gold mining, e. s. & a bank statemnents, share dividends

Document. McColl, Rankin & Stanistreet. Central Nell Gwynne GMC N L Sundry papers. Manilla folder, loose pages, company ledgers, directors reports, receipts.Mcoll, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, central nell gwyyne mine, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, central nell gwynne, gold mining, company ledgers, directors reports, receipts

Document. Black cardboard cover with red binding. 50 pages. Hand written - shareholders/transfers. Transfer Journal label stamped South Wattle Gully Company No Liability.McColl, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, south wattle gully co. n/l, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, south wattle gully co. n.l, gold mining, transfer journal shareholders/transfers

Black Framed clear covered black amd white photograph of six armed soldiers on patrol in scrub bush. D Company 1 RAR on patrol FSB CoralCORAL BALMORAL COLLECTIONd company, 1 rar, fsb coral, photograph, battle of coral-balmoral