Postcard, In the fernery, Bendigo, showing plants and ferns both sides of a path. Printed in Great Britain. Card has a gold coloured braid around it.The Valentine & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd, Melbournepostcard, photograph, bendigo fernery

The donor's (Karen Bowden) grandfather - Roy Liebig (1897-1968) - took these photos in the 1940s. Karen, as administrtor of his estate, has extracted various photos and sent them to appropriate historical societies.A series of photographs taken by Roy Liebig in the 1940s Hard copy and digital. .04 British submarine "Tapir" in the swinging basin Yarra River 1945maritime, piers and wharves, war - world war ii, roy liebig, karen bowden, yarra river, tapir

Colour Photo in Gold Frame. Burgandy Mat crashed Wessex Helicopter- Shoalwater Bay 1966 7 RAR Badge/ British Marine helicpoter.SHOALWATER BAY 1966. Donated by PTE LYALL CLAYTON,TPT PLATOON,ADMIN coy.7 RAR.7 rar, wessex (helicopter)

.1 BOX : "INTERCHANGEABLE ORIGINAL RECORD SYRINGE EVERETT 1ML 20MIN RECORD SYRINGE .2 SYRINGE : INTERCHANGEABLE EVERETT BRITISH MADE 200CAS ABOVElocal history, medical

WWII significance.British War Medal 1939 -1945 with ribbon coloured red, white and blue. Palestine Medal 1939 - 1945 with ribbon coloured purple and green.14924674 Lance Corporal John Ness

A Kew Patriotic Carnival was held in Victoria Park in 1941. The event was promoted in the Argus newspaper as: "KEW CARNIVAL - A carnival, at which more than 25 local organisations will co-operate in raising funds for Kew Patriotic Society, will be opened at Victoria Park. Kew this afternoon. The carnival will begin at 2 p.m. to-day and will continue to-morrow. There will be afternoon and evening sessions each day. Arrangements have been made for open-air dances, bicycle races, athletic events, tennis tournaments, folk dancing, miniature golf, and a shooting gallery. Flowers, sweets, cakes, and re-freshments will be sold at stalls conducted by auxiliaries, and lucky envelopes, darts competitions, spinning-wheels, and games will be among the attractions." The Argus (Melbourne) Friday 28 March 1941, Page 6.Rare example of Second World War local Kew memorabiliaPatriotic button. Kew Patriotic Carnival March 28-29 1941. Victoria Park. Numbered 2427. The design incorporates the British and Australian flags.Title: "Kew Patriotic Carnival, Victoria Park, March 28-29 1941". Number "2427"kew patriotic carnival, patriotic buttons, ww2

Ribbon Bar worn Pte A F Hoffman 395, 7/Bn; Possible worn on Anzac and Remembrance day commemoration post active service.Ribbon Bar for 1914 - 15 Star; 1914 - 1918 British War Medal; Victory Medal mounted on a brass with stainless steel broach clip.ribbon bar

TEAM NAMES VERY FAINT, GOLD PRINT DAMAGED.SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH SMEATON BRITISH LIONS TUG OF WAR TEAM 1910. TEAM MEMBERS STANDING. COMMITTEE MEMBERS SITTING WITH ROPE DISPLAYED IN FRONT. On Reverse; Handwritten in black ink - TO LENA FROM JIM WITH LOVE [REVERSE SIDE] WINNER OF CLUNES DECEMBER 20. 1910 On Front; Names printed in gold lettering, illegible, S Kelso, illegible, L McDonald (capt) illegible, illegible illegible, illegible (trainer), L Harris (trainer), W Mitchell (trainer) Winners at Clunes December 26 1910photographs, sport, tug of war.

British pattern webbing gaiter, left only. Khaki in colour, 2 side adjustments leather straps. brass buckle and brass ends on straps.“N. CUST, RAF, 1940. T. CHENETTY” (crossed out) ^.passchendaele barracks trust, equipment, gaiter

The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments produced by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Dark brown book cloth hard bound cover.

Thomas Wells No 4607. Died of Wounds 6.9.1918. Refer Cat No 9903.2 for his full service history and death.Two medals unmounted, both have ribbons with a safety pin through. .1) British War medal .2) Victory Medal 1914 - 1919.On the rim of each medal, "4607 DVR T Wells 52 BN AIF"awards, medals ww1

Thomas Robin Hilson No 2088 38th Bn, Refer Cat No 1516P for his service details.Set of two WW1 medals brass plate mounted. 1. British War Medal 1914 - 18 2. Victory Medal 1914 - 19On both, “2088 T - Cpl T.R. Hilson 38th BN A.I.F.”awards, medals, 38th bn

Large kukri knife, thought to be issued to the Gurkha troops by the British Army. Comes with two smaller sharpening knives. All contained in a leather scabbard.

The Dead Man’s Penny is a commemorative medallion which was presented to the next-of-kin of the men and women from England and the Empire who died during World War One. The Dead Man’s Penny was accompanied by a letter from King George V, stating ‘I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War’.[http://nma.gov.au/blogs/education/2010/11/14/dead-mans-penny/] Popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the somewhat smaller penny coin. 1,355,000 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tonnes of bronze, and continued to be issued into the 1930s to commemorate people who died as a consequence of the war. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Plaque_(medallion)] It was decided that the design of the plaque was to be picked from submissions made in a public competition. Over 800 designs were submitted and the competition was won by the sculptor and medallist Edward Carter Preston with his design called Pyramus, receiving a first place prize of £250.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Plaque_(medallion)] They were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory, 54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London from 1919. Early plaques did not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number stamped behind the lion's back leg. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Plaque_(medallion)] Ted Cannon's plaquette does not have a stamped number. Ted Cannon was a gifted artist and cartoonist who studied at the Ballarat School of Mines Technical Art School. During the Battle of Pozieres on the Western Front Ted Cannon worked with the Scout Platoon sketching the enemy's gun emplacements. Ted proved invaluable to the Brigade and brought he came under the attention of the Australian High Command. On 13 September 1916 Ted was given a special assignment for General C.B.B. White. Ted was sent out forward of the Old Mill at Verbrandenmolen (in the Ypres Salient) to draw a panorama of the German lines in the area from Hill 60 to The Bluff. It was a hazardous task and Ted was warned to be careful. Tragically he was sniped by an enemy machine-gunner and sustained severe abdominal wounds. Stretcher-bearers rushed him to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station where he was operated on by the doctors at 8.30 that night. With little chance of success, but ever resilient, Ted remained conscious almost to the end. He died early in the morning of the 14 September 1916. His body was buried in the large Military Cemetery at Lijssenthoek. The effects of the late Ted Cannon were returned to his parents. These were an autograph book, three brushes, prayer book, housewife, whistle, book, hymn book, curios. Another listing gives his effects as "identity disc, letters, photos, wallet, 2 books, Mexican Dollar, 1 cent (Ceylon), 3 German Straps, Fountain Pen, Cigarette-holder, Franc Note, 50 centimes Note, devotional book, mirror, rosary, scapula, metal ring, two combs, book of views, nail clippers, badges, tie clip, Egyptian stamp.[http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3202589] Ted Cannon was an only child. It is not known how the 'Dead Man's Penny' came into the ownership of the donor, but it is thought that it may have been left in a house owned by the donor's mother. Further information on Ted Cannon can be found at http://bih.ballarat.edu.au/index.php/Edwin_J._Cannon and http://www.ballarat.edu.au/about-ub/history/art-and-historical-collection/ub-honour-roll/c/edwin-joseph-ted-cannon-1895-1916Large bronze medallion or plaquette featuring an image of Lady Britannia surrounded by two dolphins (representing Britain’s sea power) and a lion (representing Britain) standing over a defeated eagle (symbolising Germany). Around the outer edge of the medallion are the words ‘He died for freedom and honour’. Next to Lady Britannia is the deceased solider’s name, with no rank provided to show equality in their sacrifice. (http://nma.gov.au/blogs/education/2010/11/14/dead-mans-penny) The plaque was distributed throughout the British Empire, and the first plaques were distributed in Australia in 1922 "Returned home" by W. & O. Mayne, 2013. ted cannon, edwin joseph cannon, cannon, world war 1, world war

Decorated clock was presented to Edwin Gullock for services rendered as Hon. Secretary of the Buninyong and District Cricket Club, 8/4/1898.Historic significance recognising service of a Buninyong citizen in 1989.Ornate decorated clockface with gold coloured rim, mounted on velvet covered circular mount, with heart-shaped gold metal decorations"Pres to E. Gullock by the B.D.C.C. for Services Rendered as Hon. Sec. 8/4/98" "Patd in Great Britain & France" "Manfd by The British United Clock Co Ld" "Birmingham England"clock, buninyong, buninyong and district cricket club

The nine postcards in this set were donated together and date to the early 1900s. All but one postcard in this set shows images of Warrnambool, in the Western District of Victoria; the other has a London image. The postcards were all printed in Great Britain according to that country’s postal regulations. The fronts of all cards have titles printed in red. Most of the images on the cards are attributed to photographer Joseph Jordan and belong to the Jordan Series. The back of these cards has an outline for a postage stamp, a vertical dividing line and a heading on each side of the line to separate the Correspondence from the Address. However, this postcard is the 'odd one out' in that its location is London, it has no border, it has no reference to 'Jordan' or 'Jordan Series' no reference to the printer, no 'correspondence heading', it is slightly smaller than the others, and it has text in the stamp area that refers to 'inland' and 'foreign' postage, a half-penny inland and one-penny overseas.. Postcards or ‘correspondence cards’ appeared in Britain in 1894. They were plain cards with a space for the message on one side and an address on the other; regulations didn’t allow anything but the address to be written on the ‘address’ side. In 1902 the British regulations then allowed a picture to be printed on the front and the address on the back, so messages had to be written on the picture side. Soon, the regulations changed and the back was divided for a message and the address. New Gaiety Theatre, Strand [London] - The New Gaiety Theatre opened in 1903 on the corner of The Strand and Aldwych, London. The second show performed in the new theatre was “The Spring Chicken” in 1905. The third show followed in 1907. The preprinted postage cost on the stamp outline is ½ d. or half penny; according to The Great Britain Philatelic Society, Great Britain Postcard Stamps were priced 1/2 d. or Half Penny from 1-Oct-1870 to 3-Jun-1916. The postcard is significant for its inclusion with a set of nine postcards, eight of which are images of Warrnambool and its district and photographed by Joseph Jordan. It is also curious for is lack of connection to Jordan. Postcard, one of nine, portrait orientation, coloured print. The image shows a tall three-storey corner building with a statue on its domed tower and smaller towers on the sides. The top two storeys have balconies with columns, and overhang the ground floor, providing cover over the footpath. The foreground has horse-drawn carriages and coaches, and motorised vehicles including a bus. Figures wearing top hats and others in long dresses are in front of the building, which has a sign on the corner advertising the building and its current show. There is no correspondence written on the card. The front of the postcard has a printed red title and an inscription on the image. The reverse has inscriptions and outlines for a postage stamp. Made in Britain.Sign on the image of the building: “GAIETY / SPRING CHICKEN / THEATRE” On the front in red: “New Gaiety Theatre, Strand” On the back in printed in green: Stamp box “INLAND / 1/2d.’ STAMP / FOREIGN 1d.” “POST CARD” “THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN HERE” flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, warrnambool, great ocean road, warrnambool and district, warrnambool scenes, local scenes, views of warrnambool, postcard, souvenir, correspondence, cameo postcard, new gaiety theater, the strand, spring chicken, gaiety theatre, london theatre

This ship model is of a Colonial Port Jackson schooner, originally designed by the British Admiralty in 1803 as a response to the request of New South Wales' Governor Arthur Phillip. The drafts for the original plans are in Greenwich, UK, in the National Maritime Museum. The model is a Ledition edition, number 2 of 5, modelled by Bill Leonard. The model is rigged and decked in the manner of David McGregor. The flag on model of Port Jackson schooner is that of the British White Ensign which was used as the flag design of the Royal Australian Navy from 1911 - 1967. In 1785 the First Fleet arrived in the new British colony of Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour) in New South Wales and Arthur Phillip was appointed as the first Governor. The following year Governor Phillip asked the English Royal Navy to provide drafts and materials for two ships for use in the Port Jackson colony for exploring and surveying rivers. The vessels needed a shallow draught and to be made from local cedar timber. He asked for the frames of the schooners to be provided along with shipwrights to assemble them. Many years later, in 1803, Governor Phillip’s request was fulfilled but he had already resigned from his post. The drafts titled ‘Schooner for Port Jackson’ were despatched by the Royal Navy from England to Australia. The original draft is still in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, UK. Meanwhile, the NSW Government had already built various other ships before 1803. In 1797 His Majesty’s Dockyard was opened at Port Jackson for building larger vessels. The Royal Navy’s 1803 design of a ‘Schooner for Port Jackson’ has been recognised on the obverse of Australia’s twenty dollar banknote since 1994. A sketch of the schooner is beside the portrait of Mrs Mary Reibey, who arrived as a convict and rose to become a respected and successful owner of a cargo shipping business. Her fleet included the Mercury, a schooner similar to the 1803 design for the Port Jackson schooner. Although the 1803 plans for a ‘Schooner for Port Jackson’ are commonly believed to be used for the first ship built in Australia, no records have been found of any ships being built according to these plans. However, it can be claimed that the plans were the ‘first Royal Navy plans made for a ship for use at Port Jackson, and to be built at Port Jackson, in Australia’. William (Bill) Leonard passed away on March 1st 1995.This ship model is significant for its representation of an early Australian colonial schooner. The 1803 Royal Navy’s plans for the colonial ‘Schooner for Port Jackson, were for the first ship specifically designed by the Royal Navy to be built and used in Port Jackson, for use in exploration and surveying of Australian ports and rivers. The plans are associated with Australia’s colonial settlement in the late 1700s. This ship model is significant for its association with the emblems of Australia’s history on the twenty dollar banknote. The colonial Port Jackson schooner is considered significant to Australian history, and represented on the 1994 twenty dollar banknote and its new version being rolled out in October 2019.Ship model of a colonial Port Jackson Schooner. Two-masted sailing ship displaying the flag named The British White Ensign. Mode of light coloured stained timberl is mounted on brass legs inside a glass case with timber frame and base. Metal engraved plaque states that the model is as designed by The Admiralty in 1803. Model is a number 2 of 5 in a limited edition, made by Bill Leonard.Engraved on metal plaque "PORT JACKSON SCHOONER / As Designed By The Admiralty. 1803"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ship model port jackson schooner, sailing ship, limited edition model, model maker bill leonard, david mcgregor design, maritime trade, maritime vessel, colonial port jackson schooner, pacific island trade in early 1800s, sydney cove, governor arthur phillip, governor philip gidley king, a schooner for port jackson, national maritime museum greenwich, australian $20 banknote

Richard Meyrick (Britain), Bendigo City Hall. Music Advancement Society Of Bendigo Third Subscription Concert. Wednesday, 13th July, 1977 8.15pm. Richard Meyrick, British Concert Pianist was born in 1952, and began to study the piano at the age of 10. in 1963 he won the first of many scholarships. . . The Borwick Prize in 1971, and the Harris Prize in 1973. Vladimir Ashkenazy. . .Programme.Northern Offset Printingperforming arts, music, music advancement society bendigo, richard meyrick (britain), bendigo city hall. music advancement society of bendigo third subscription concert. 13th july, 1977. richard meyrick, british concert pianist was born in 1952, and began to study the piano at the age of 10. he won many scholarships. . . borwick prize in 1971, harris prize 1973. vladimir ashkenazy. . .programme.

This Elector's Right Certificate, No. 206179, is for Samuel Richardson, a sawyer, who lived at Bullarook in the Ballarat East Division. It has been signed by W. Cantwell, the registrar and by Samuel Richardson. As a resident and a male he was entitled to vote in the Ballarat East Division at Victorian State elections. Samuel Richardson was a sawmiller and farmer in Orbost. He built The Curlip, a wooden paddle-steamer of 9 tons gross and dimensions of 43 feet long, 10 feet wide and a depth of 3 feet, on the slipway at their Tabarra sawmill in 1890. This item is associated with the Richardson family, early Orbost pioneers,A white paper certificate with black print and hand-written details. at the top is the British coat-of-arms. It is an elector's right certificate made out to Samuel richardson.suffrage richardson-samuel elector's-right-certificate

This photograph shows Ina Warren with Jack warren, Linda Warren and Cora Lynn. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white photograph of a woman with three small children sitting in a pumpkin on water . There are small flags (Australian and British) at each end. On the pumpkin is "HMAS ORBOST".pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer

.1) British pattern, enamel water bottle. WWI - WWII it has brown leather carrier & strap. A cork is attached to a spring. .2) Carrier assembly.containers - military, military history - equipment

Items in the collection re J.C.W.LEDEUX, refer Cat No 2378 for his service details.2 Identity Cards issued to members of the LEDEUX Family. They are civilian registration cards for British Subjects, made of light brown card printed in black ink..1) Written in front in ink: “LEDEUX / John Claude William / Rushworth” .2) “ Rose Christina Ledeux / Moora Road / Ruthworth” .2) Is endorsed: Ration Books for two childrendocuments - cards, military history - identification, civilian

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments 1871 Publisher: Oxford University Press for the British and Foreign Bible Society Date: 1871 Further Information: The label on spine cover with typed text RH 220 BIB Flyleaf has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Libraryflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, the holy bible containing the old and new testaments 1871

A 123-page book by R.W.H. Miller with a monochrome coloured cover featuring the British Channel Mission's signal flags and the Bristol Channel Mission Cutter Eirene. non-fictionInstitutional foundation stories have a tendency to change and develop with the passage of time and much repetition. Maritime social historian R.W.H. Miller here explores the life of The Rev. John Ashley and his association with the foundation storyof the Mission to Seafarers, the work of which society is much admired by its present Patron, HRH the Princess Royal. The traditional story is that Ashley's son, out walking by the Bristol Channel with his father, in the early 1830s, asked how the islanders could go to church. Ashley went to see, and from the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm seeing large fleets of wind bound ships, asked himself the same question. He used his own money (deriving mainly from the trade of sugar and slaves) to build a schooner, which he sailed in all weathers to provide an answer, in the process creating for himself a place in the ancestry of several Anglican and Catholic societies, of which the Mission to Seafarers, the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, and the Apostleship of the Sea, continue to provide seafarers with a valued and often heroic service.cutter, eirene, shipping, r.w.h. miller, mission to seamen, seafarers welfare, reverend john ashley (1801-1886)