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 1942 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. An Exposition of the New Testament Hand writing on fly page reads "" Mrs Gilpin presents this book, as a testimony of her affection, to her much valued friend Lady Neale." Author: William Gilpin Publisher: R Blamire Date: 1790Label on spine cover with typed text R H 225 GIL Pastedown end page has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service (partly torn away) warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, an exposition of the new testament, william gilpin

Framed black and white photograph of large group of people outside large single story building, signage across top of building reads-- ' ? UST Bendigo Knitting Mills. Pty Ltd ' accession Number 531 lists ' Hanro Building 'Bartlet Bros. Bendigo. Handwritten bottom right cornerorganization, business, clothing manafacturer

Photograph. Black & white photograph of an unknown parade taken at Fountain Intersection showing Gertrude Perry leading a group of women behind two boys bearing a banner which reads Golden. On the back: Bendigo Advertiser Photographic Service BB119.Bendigo Advertiser Photographic Servicecottage, miners

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photograph collection dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the last decade. This series of photographs show events and people from the Churchill Island precinct and the enormous amount of collaboration and work that went into the development of the heritage area and making it accessible and interactive for visitors of all ages. Black and White photograph depicting grove of trees behind a dividing fence topped with barbed wire. Small sign in centre of photograph reads 'This area was planted by Phillip Island Tree Planters Association Assisted by Phillip Island School Children'Catalogue number in pencil on reversechurchill island, conservation

Object. Small green bottle with black plastic screw top cap. Label shows figure in green robes astride a heavily laden horse printing on label reads as follows: "Potter & Moores original Mitcham Lavender Smelling Salts".Potter & Moore England.medicine, first aid, lavender smelling salts

Object. Small square cardboard box with ribbon closure and press-stud catch. Label on top of the box reads "Poudre (Powder) June Roses".Morny Pour Le Teint Manufactured in England by Morny, 201 Regent Street, London.This label is the Registered trade mark of Morny Pty Ltd.personal effects, containers, powder

Photograph of 10 men standing & seated one holding a cricket bat most dressed in shirt sleeves, some with bowler or straw hats, mounted in a brown wooden fram with gold and black edging and glass, markings read 'Cricket Team?'person, group, cricket team, cricket team, cricket, 1900's cricket

2 small coloured prints showing women's fashions in 1842, framed with thin timber frames cream in colour with glass, markings read 'Fashions for October 1842', 'Fashions for December 1842', Donated by Mr Atkinson related to Mary Reibypainting, print, home life, fashions, fashion

Sepia toned photograph of Workers on Old Tom 'Sand heap O'Halloran's Team' Markings on photo read 'A. Levy & co' Within the photo are 2 horses and carts as well as 9 male workers. Old Tom Mine in Whipstick, Eaglehawk.A Levy & Coperson, group, group of workers, old tom sand heap, mining, workmen, horse and buggies, o'halleran's team

Black and White Photo/Drawing of the Sandhurst Post and Telegraph Offices - Pall Mall, the tower clock shows the time as 12:20pm, Markings read 'Sandhurst Post & Telegraph Offices'. Two horse carriages 15 people walking on the road.buildings, post office, sandhurst post and telegraph offices, sandhurst post office, sandhurst telegraph office, sandhurst post & telegraph offices, sandhurst, post office, pall mall

Sundry Documents: Brown Cardboard Covers containing numerous sundry letters, forms, etc of the North Deborah Gold Mining Co NL, tied with white cord, markings read: ''North Deborah Sundry Papers'' handwritten on front cover.organization, business, industrial - mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, mining, gold mining, north deborah

Used to collect medical samples, including blood.Three plastic medical collection tubes, with caps. Labels attached to each of the tubes reads 'P2/Name/Date/Time/Test/5 ML PLAIN TUBE/For Blood, Stand To/Allow Clotting/ R.M. Johns, Mt. Eliza, Vic.'pathology

Elobrate embroidered wizzard and cattle emblem red/black/silver uniform patch. White background with "100 Missions" embroidered in red and black. Ace of spades on top left and bottom right embroidered in black. Vietnam embroided in read and blackcloth patch, insignia, alan reed

B&W photo of Belgrave Post Office, 1997. External shot of front door. Door is closed. A handwritten sign stuck to the inside the glass door reads, 'We are open / We move to the / Belgrave Newsagency / 1st September / 1997'

Diggers & Mining: The Digging - The Diggers. Slide reads; In summer, many diggers wore fly nets while they were working. Picture of digger with fly net while working. Markings: 54 994.LIF:6. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Small cream coloured card. Picture shows a pair of grey horses in harness being driven away from a church. Card has scalloped edges and a handwritten message reads: Thankyou Peter, for being a splendid tutor. `B.S.H.S. Debs.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Diggers & Mining: The Digging - The Diggers. Slide reads: Sandhurst, 1857. (Sandhurst was the official name of the town - and, later, city - of Bendigo from 1853 1891.) Black and white slide. Markings: 43 994.LIF:6. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Colour photograph. Four boys painting scenery. Gum tree. Hills. Bird in sky. Gravel Hill Primary School. 1988 Production 'The Wallaby Track'' Back of photo reads: Damon Mlekuz LHS Designed and ran the painting crew.photo, group, four boys

Colour photo taken at Bendigo Regional Institute of Technology. Small piece of paper attached to bottom of photo reads: Analytical Chemistry Lab. 1970 Peter Ellis demonstrating the use of an Atomic Absorptiometer (Instrument newly acquired end of 1965).person, individual, peter ellis oam

Colour photo. Taken at BRIT Small piece of paper attached to bottom of photograph reads: Organic Chemistry Lab. 1970, Peter Ellis Preparing boiled, cooled and filtered Potassium permanganate for a solution To be standardised in General Chemistry (1st. Year)person, individual, peter ellis oam

Colour photograph. Two men in camp chairs. Bush setting. Man on left with tambourine. Peter Ellis playing accordion. Date stamped '97 1 1 back of photo reads: John McQueen (Harry's son) and Peter Ellis.entertainment, music, musicians

The Claxton monument in front of the Fernery in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens was made to honour a respected citizen and was erected after his death due to public subscription. F.M. Claxton was one of Ballarat's first "tourist ambassadors" and was largely responsible for developing the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree.1 page of newsprint with a photograph of Claxton's bust in black and white and 4 columns of print about Claxton. Caption underneath the photograph reads: "Respected citizen: Frederick Moses Claxton's bust at Ballarat Botanical Gardens." page is folded in the middle.2 asterisks in biro, 2nd column, 2nd paragraph and 4th column, end of article.john garner, doctor, ballarat botanical gardens, claxton memorial, lake wendouree, fountain, councillor, businessman, claxton, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat, ballarat news

This photograph shows the interior of a library Black and white photograph of a library interior showing several bookshelves full of books. There is a curtain hanging from the ceiling to the rear of the photograph in front of large windows which are letting in light. A small sign to the left of centre reads 'TEENS CORNER'library, libraries