Document. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Stirling J A?, Bank of New South Wales, Castlemaine re De Garis loan (by executors of the late Stewart D). Mentions Pentreath Mrs. 2 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Pentreath W T? re loan. 3 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Bennett & Co, Melbourne re Sterry v Trestrail. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett & Co re Holloways loan. 5 - Post Office Telegraph from Bennett & Co re Sterry v Trestrail. 6 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Sterry D C. 7 - 1886 - Letter from Mills Benjamin, Solicitor, 181 Swanston St Melbourne re Mead Jas. 8 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett & CO re Lazarus v Lazarus.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, stirling j a, de garis, stewart d, pentreath mrs, pentreath w t?, bennett & co, sterry, trestrail, holloways, sterry d c, mills benjamin, mead jas, lazarus.

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Post Office and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Melbourne to Messrs Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Albion Chambers, Sandhurst. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Arnoldt D G, Wedderburn. 3 - 1886 - Letter from O'Reilly D, George Hotel, St Kilda. 4 - 1886 - Post card from Langtree C W, Secretary for Mines and Water Supply. 5 - 1886 - Letter from Dru?? W T, 19 Temple Court re Lazarus v Lazarus. 6 - 1886 - Letter from C ?, Raywood re Gow from Kamarooka. 7 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, Solicitors, Melbourne to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, Solicitors, Melbourne to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Albion Chambers, Sandhurst re Sterry v Trestrail.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, post office & telegram dept, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, arnoldt d g, o'reilly d, george hotel, langtree c w, dru?? w t, lazarus, gow, bennett attenborough wilks & nunn, sterry, trestrail

The "Longfellow" Bithday Book. A selection of choice passages for every day in the year, from the writings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.Small green cloth-bound hardcover book with decorative pattern borders in gilt and red, Gilt edged pages. Literary passages throughout with space opposite for notes, birth dates. Good condition.Flyleaf, 'A Merry Xmas/from EM./1886'birthday book

A wedding bodice made for Mary Jane Schroder for her marriage to Ralph Pardy Rudd on 24th Nov 1886 in Ceylon1886 satin bodice, boned and paneled to fit 24 ins waist. Closed at front with 18 pearl buttons. Long sleeves, beaded and embroidered cuffs also lace trimmed. Pocket on left side for watch. Peplum at back to sit on bustle of skirt. Beaded collar to fit over bodice neckline. See also Fan NA3582, shoes NA3578 and bridal headdress NA3489.costume accessories, clothes accessories

This silver trophy is named "Sir W. Clarke's Trophy" after its donor. Sir William John Clarke, Baronet, who was a citizen and philanthropist, well known in Melbourne and throughout Victoria. He gave donations to many public projects including Melbourne University and was a patron of many and varied sports. He encouraged the defence services with prizes for competitions among both military and naval forces. In colonial Australia in the 1880s there was an increase in the size of the colonial military forces, rising from 8,000 in 1883 to 22, 000 in 1885. In 1885 there was a return of unpaid volunteer soldiers, along with a fear of a Russian attack on Australia. As a result, the Sir W.J. Clarke's Trophy was given as a prize in 1885 to Victorian Militia Garrison Battery competition winners, for artillery firing target accuracy. On 12th December 1885, the conclusion of the first artillery competition for Sir W. Clarke's Trophy was held at the Williamstown battery. The first winner of the Sir W. Clarke's Trophy was the Geelong Garrison Battery, with the prize Sir W. Clark's Trophy presented to them in 1886. In 1887 Warrnambool Garrison Artillery, under the command of Major W.S. Helpman, was the proud winner of the Sir W. Clarke’s Trophy. The contest was held at Point Gellibrand with the trophy formally unveiled at the Warrnambool orderly-room on 3rd August 1887. In June 1892 the annual competition was held at the Gellibrand battery in Williamstown. The canvas targets were moored at sea and fired upon from three breech-loading guns mounted on disappearing carriages. Each team was allowed 4 shots fired from each of the 3 guns. An article in the Portland Guardian stated that "the Warrnambool team is certainly looked upon as the certain winners." The same article reported that In this particular year the Government withdrew its previous award of 10-pound cash to the men of the winning team, described in the Portland Guardian as a petty economy of the Government. As the Warrnambool Militia Garrison Artillery had won the Trophy, for the third time, they became Absolute Possessors of the prize. The Trophy is locally significant to the community of Warrnambool for its connection to the Warrnambool Volunteer Rifle Corps., which formed part of the original Warrnambool Garrison to protect the Warrnambool Harbour. The site of the 1888 Warrnambool Garrison and Fortifications is Victorian State Heritage-listed is significant for its intact and operational nature and is one of the best-preserved pieces of Victoria's early colonial heritage.This is the Sir W. Clarke's Trophy for the Victorian Militia Garrison Artillery, first presented in 1886. The silver trophy with lid rests on a square black timber base that displays award shields on each side edge. Inside the hollow trophy is a removable copper alloy bowl with a wide edge. The inner walls of the trophy are unpolished and there is a metal bracing plate between the sides and fitted metal bolts with nuts and washers. near the base. The large, elaborately decorated, silver bowl has a conical pedestal, two handles on the top edge of the bowl and a matching fitted lid. Much of the decoration is three-dimensional. Fine, detailed decoration includes a semi-kneeling figure with an upturned face on top of the lid, vine-like handles resting on necks of swans with outspread wings, figures seated on a ridge, two on each side, with ends of limbs hanging over the ridge, two holding lyres, patterns of leaves, flowers and draped ribbons. The timber base is painted black on the outside. The engraved silver shields around its sides have inscriptions of trophy winners and the name of the trophy. There is a handwritten, pencil inscription of the date 1887 under the timber base. The first award was made in 1886 and the last in 1892. The Warrnambool Garrison wond this trophy three times, including the last award given.Front centre large shield; “VICTORIAN MILITIA / GARRISON ARTILLERY / SIR W. CLARKE’S / TROPHY” Left side, right shield; “1886 / WON BY / GEELONG / GARRISON BATTERY / Major J PRICE / COMMANDING OFFICER” Front, right shield; ” 1887 / WON BY / WARRNAMBOOL / GARRISON ARTILLERY / Major W.S. Helpman / COMMANDING OFFICER” Left side shield: “1888 / WON BY / NORTH MELBOURNE / Garrison Battery / Major F.R.Y. Goldstein / Commanding Officer” Right side, left shield; “1889. / WON BY / WARRNAMBOOL / Garrison Battery / Major W.S. Helpman / Commanding Officer” Right side, centre shield; “1890 / WON BY / HARBOUR TRUST / BATTERY / Major J.H. Haydon / Commanding Officer” Right side, right shield; “1891 / WON BY / WILLIAMSTOWN / BATTERY /l Major W.H. Hall / Commanding Officer” Back, left shield; “1892 / WON BY / WARRNAMBOOL / Garrison Battery / Major W.S. Helpman / Commanding Officer” In pencil underneath timber base “1887”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, sir w. clarke's trophy, warrnambool volunteer rifle corps, statistics of warrnambool volunteer rifle corps, warrnambool volunteer rifle company, warrnambool rifle volunteers, warrnambool garrison, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, trophy, garrison, competition, prize, winners

A Bible presented to Lily Spicer at the Yendon Sunday School on 16 May, 1886.Dark brown cloth bound, hard covered Bible in very worn condition. Presented in 1886 to Lily Spicer from the Sunday School at Yendon, near Buninyong.Inscribed 'Lily Spicer, Sunday School, Yendon. 16.5.86. Mr. H. Browne, Superintendent.religion, christianity, yendon, british & foreign bible society, bibles

Murray Comrie Collection. Murray Comrie's information about Tarnagulla Post Offices to be added. This photograph is a fair copy created from an older original.Monochrome photograph of numerous people standing outside the then new Tarnagulla Post Office, during its construction.Handwritten: 'Post Office during building - 1886 opened'.tarnagulla, post office, construction, businesses, commercial road

Contract of supply of gas to Port Melbourne 1886 - South Suburban Gas Company LimitedBlind embossed company sealutilities - gas, local government - borough of port melbourne, south suburban gas company ltd, a d michie

Black and white photo of Marian Hinde, 1886. The wedding dress in photo on display in museum.hinde, marian, knox, mrs. e., museum

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Meudell George D re Holloway. Letterhead - Horrell & Meudell (R F Horrell & G D Meudell), Auditors, Secretaries and Accountants, 10 Market Buildings, William Street, Melbourne. 2 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph 4 Nov 1886 for Merrifield S from Bruce T?, St Kilda asking, 'Where is Penders blackboy Pompey'. Reply from Merrifield mentions 'Pompey was remanded Melbourne on Friday last. Enquire at watch tower there.' Also mentions 'I don't know whether Mr Bruce is Pompey's friend or Caesars (Mr Penders)' on Attached handwritten note dated 4 Nov 1886. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Williams A M, Solicitor, 28 Queen Street, Melbourne re Bagot? V Budden 4 - 1886 - Post card to Suffern? Mr William James, Elmore from Lester A,A. Land Officer, re 255 acres, Egerton. Mentions Wardens Court, Sandhurst. 5 - 1886 - Letter from Drues W T, 19 Temple Court re A'Becketts fees. 6 - 1886 - Letter from Barrett Henry, Runnymede East.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, meudell george d, holloway, horrell & meudell, merrifield s, bruce t?, penders, pompey, caesars, williams a m, bagot, budden, suffern mr william james, lester a a, drues w t, a'becketts, barrett henry

Fan was made for Mary Jane Schroder for her marriage to Ralph Pardy Rudd on 24th Nov 1886 in Ceylon. Later carried by three family members at weddings during 1941 by Mrs Kathleen Hubbert then Mrs Mary Barry in 1947 and finally by Sharlene Barry, now Mrs Ron Draeger.1886 bamboo fan mounted with white feathers. Spray of artificial flowers and cream satin ribbon tied in bows and wound round the bamboo handle. Back of fan has circle of boa to conceal joins of white feathers. See also Bodice NA3580, shoes NA3578 and bridal headdress NA3489.costume accessories, female

In 1886 the Wesleyan Methodist Church celebrated the fiftieth jubilee of the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Association in Britain. The Association was one of several off-shoots of the Methodist Church, which had been established by John Wesley from the 1730s. Methodism stressed evangelism and a closer association with God. The focus on fiftieth anniversaries by the church originated in Leviticus 25:10: ‘And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you...’. In 1902 the various off-shoots of Methodism in Australia united to form the Methodist Church of Australasia. In 1977 the church became part of the Uniting Church. The Wesleyan Methodist Church which exists in Australia today is actually a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, introduced to Australia during World War II. In 2003 it had almost 100 churches in Australia.Many of the early pioneers in the City of Moorabbin were Methodists.Silver Medal Side one: legend within trefoil; JUBILEE / OF THE / WESLEYAN / METHODIST / CHURCH / IN / VICTORIA / 1886 small floral decorations at each point of trefoil. Side two: Bust of John Wesleycity of moorabbin, wesleyan methodist church, religion, jubilee

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Motteram & Hyett, Solicitors, McCrae Street, Sandhurst re City Council Masonic Hall. Mentions Temperance Fire Brigade. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Office of Titles regarding Certificate of Title Vol. 1694, Fol. 338627 and Vol. 1228, fol. 245466. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Office of Titles re Woods to Lake & Knape. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, Melbourne to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Sandhurst re Sterry v Trestrail?cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, motteram & hyett, city council masonic hall, temperance fire brigade. office of titles, woods, lake & knape, bennett attenborough wilks & nunn, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, sterry, trestrail?

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. In this image the lot to the left is vacantCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .02 - 1886 building marked, but actually a 20th century photo built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal papers. 1 - 1886 - Post card from Langtree C W, Secretary for Mines and Water Supply addressed to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Sandhurst. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, 102 Collins Street West Melbourne to Messrs Bennett & Co re Lazarus v Lazarus. 3 - 1886 - Post card from Inspector of Accounts addressed to Messrs Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly re Geugnagel. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Crawford W H, Ballarat to Connelly T J Esq, Solicitor, Sandhurst.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, langtree c w, mines & water supply, bennett attenborough wilks & nunn, bennett & co, lazarus, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, martin wm, geugnagel, crawford w h, connelly t j esq.

Framed original woodblock engraving of the Police Memorial, Mansfield. Hand coloured from the Garran Picturesque Atlas 1886mansfield, police murders, murdered police memorial, kelly gang, ned kelly, michael kelly, michael scanlan, thomas lonigan

Book: 'Lawn Tennis'. 92 pages. Hardcover. Edition uncertain (Copyrighted 1886) Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboardtennis

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Arnoldt D W, Wedderburn. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Cuthbert & Co, Law & General Stationers, Lithographers & Printers, 55 Chancery Lane. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Pickles Thos P, Railway Workshops, Newport. Letter has letterhead - G F Pickles & Sons, Carriage Manufacturing Company Limited. Manufacturers of Carriages, Buggies, Pleasure & Business Wagons. Importers of American and English Carriage Materials. Sandhurst. Repository & Show Rooms, Latrobe Street West, Melbourne. 4 - 1886 - Letter to Spence James, Gannawarra, Cohuna from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Albion Chambers, Sandhurst. Also contains returned reply from Spence James. Mentions Geugnagel Charles, Baker, Sandhurst. 5 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Kilbride Peter, Rochester to Wilkinson, Albion Chambers re Brown & Ellison case. 6 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Bennett & Co, Market St re Sterry & Trestrail.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, arnoldt d w, cuthbert & co, pickles thos p, g f pickles & sons, spence james, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, geugnagel charles, kilbride peter, wilkinson, brown, ellison, bennett & co, sterry, trestrail

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 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 Graphic Illustrated Newspaper Vol 33 Publisher: Edward Joseph Mansfield Date: 1886 Further Information: January to June 1886Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, 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 graphic illustrated newspaper vol 33, edward joseph mansfield

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 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 Graphic Illustrated Newspaper Vol 34 Publisher: Edward Joseph Mansfield Date: 1886 Further Information: July to December 1886 Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, 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 graphic illustrated newspaper vol 34, edward joseph mansfield

Used with Lebel Model 1886 bolt action rifle and was the basic French infantry weapon of World War 1 (1914-1918). Probably brought to Australia by a returning soldier as a souvenir. Donated to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Collection when no longer of interest to family. Nickname 'Rosalie' by French soldiers, a reference to a popular song of the war years. Called French knitting needles by German soldiers.Fine example of World War 1 weaponry used by allied forces.French Model 1886/93 "Rosalie" bayonet, 500mm steel cruciform section blade with quillon (hook) and brass anodized handle.On Quilion "M 78124"rosalie, knitting needles, french, bayonet

Born: St Petersurg, Russia 1828; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1854; Lived and worked: Switzerland 1845-1848, Germany 1851-1854, Australia 1854-1865, New Zealand 1865-1866, England 1870-1902; Died: London, Middlesex, England 1902RomanticismGift of Mrs E.E. Ledger, 1985View from rustic house with two figures overlooking lake surrounded by mountains and trees. Grey brushed stained timber.Recto: Signed and dated "N.Chevalier. / 1886" in brown watercolour in l.l.c of composition; Not titledwatercolour, landscape, waterscape, building, trees, mountains, water, cabin, sunset