Transcript: Athenaeum building celebrates 170 years Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 11/11/2009 Reporter: Lisa Whitehead Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth. Transcript KERRY O’BRIEN, PRESENTER: Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne's Athenaeum building has, in one form or another, provided education and entertainment. For the Victorian colonies it became a city and along the way documented its growth. The building's original library and theatre still draw devotees and as Lisa Whitehead reports, a loyal band of volunteers. KEVIN QUIGLEY, ATHENAEUM PRESIDENT: There's nothing like us that has been here from day one, four years after the boat pushed ashore, here we are. It's a thread that runs through the life of Melbourne. LISA WHITEHEAD, REPORTER: In the heart of Melbourne's CBD, the Athenaeum is a celebrity in disguise, the oldest cultural icon in the city, but barely noticed. MARJORIE DALVEAN, VOLUNTEER HISTORIAN: People of Melbourne walk past this area and they have no idea what it is. RAY LAWLER, PLAYWRIGHT: It seemed to me to be a place that absolutely, or breathes Melbourne, I suppose, culture. LISA WHITEHEAD: Just four years after Melbourne was founded, the colony built a Mechanic's Institution, one of the first in the world, a place where the working class could meet and learn. KEVIN QUIGLEY: People think of it as Wild West sort of place where these hearty types drank and rushed about, but Melbourne was freely settled. It was a city of people who wanted to better themselves - entrepreneurs. And the Mechanic's Institution was that innovative idea that had grown up in Edinburgh and London about providing an opportunity for education for the working people. LISA WHITEHEAD: Mark Twain lectured there. Later, other buildings were added and a theatre to host classic plays. And it adopted its more bourgeois friendly title of the Athenaeum. Crucially from the start there was the library, the first to offer affordable lending to the working man. And it still attracts devotees. Former University lecturer Margaret Bowman, 89, comes in every Wednesday, along with her dog to join an enthusiastic band of volunteers sorting through the archives. MARGARET BOWMAN, FORMER UNIVERSITY LECTURER: Doing research is something that I find actually I enjoy more than anything. Every old lady needs to have a project and now I've got a project. MARJORIE DALVEAN: Margaret, Christine has just found out that Alfred Deakin was a member here from 1874 to 1877. This place is not flashy, we've never been flashy. But book lovers walk in here and they know this is the place for them. ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Old times and old names. The Athenaeum theatre in Melbourne for more than 40 years has been one of the city's best known cinemas. LISA WHITEHEAD: In the 20th century, the theatre surrendered to the new craze of talking pictures, and one particular fan was famous Australian playwright Ray Lawler. At 13, he dropped out of school to work in a Footscray factory and two years later his first trip to the glamorous Athenaeum cinema hinted at the education he was missing. RAY LAWLER: It just had a style about it which I responded to, I think. I was looking for something and this seemed to be part of it. Ray Lawler went on to write "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" and found literary fame overseas. About a century after it had started as an educational place for the working man, Ray Lawler had, in effect, become an Athenaeum graduate. RAL LAWLER: If they had been looking for the sort of person that they were hoping to encourage along the way, I suppose I would have been somebody that might have fitted the mould, you know. LISA WHITEHEAD: In time, the cinema was returned to its theatrical roots. FRANK THRING, 1977: It has a great resemblance to the Theatre Royal in Hobart which Larry Olivier has called the best theatre he's ever worked in. And it's almost identical. It is the true Victorian playhouse. The horseshoe shaped thing: stalls, dress circle and gallery. And you're close to the audience and they're close to you. Marvellous feeling. LISA WHITEHEAD: Today, it's still a theatre. But time has brought compromises. The once vaunted art gallery has now covered its windows and become a comedy club and performance space. TV and suburban life have eaten away at the library membership. It offers an online service now, and a recent federal government grant will pay for the upkeep of its gracious interior, including the 1930s elevator Ray Lawler used to ride. For him, it's money well spent on history quietly made and discreetly observed. RAY LAWLER: It's the lack of awareness, I think, that people don't know what they've got here. They've really got the whole history of Melbourne almost. KEVIN QUIGLEY: It was a similar organisation in Sydney but we are the only one that's got a continual lineage on the same spot. We started here and we're still here and we'll be here for another 100 years. KERRY O'BRIEN: Lisa Whitehead on a great Melbourne landmark. © 2010 ABC | Privacy Policy Beginning as the Melbourne Mechanics' Institution in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum has a long history that reflects the cultural and social development of Melbourne. It continues to be managed as a not-for-profit organisation by a volunteer board, with a subscription library (maintained since 1839) and a leased theatre.Video broadcast ABC 7:30 Report for 11/11/2009. "Tomorrow marks the 170th birthday of one of the nation's historic cultural landmarks. Melbourne’s Athenaeum building has, in one form or other, provided education and entertainment for the Victorian colony as it became a city; and along the way, documented its growth."athenaeum, australian broadcasting corporation, kerry o’brien, kevin quigley, lisa whitehead, marjorie dalvean, ray lawler, margaret bowman, frank thring.

This image shows the 1906 Keel House conservatory. It was designed and fabricated in England, then re-assembled in the Ballarat Gardens. It was purely for display, only allowing public viewing through glass windows at either end. It became known as the Keel House because the roofline resembled a boat hull, but this roof profile was specifically designed to ensure that snow would be shed from the roof. It was replaced in 1959 by Cuthbert House, another conservatory which also did not allow public access. An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.statues, greenhouse, lake wendouree, botanical gardens, marble lion statue, charles summer, james russell thompson, william wallace statue

see Lakes Post 13 June 1991Black and white photograph members Surf Life Saving Club, Rosie Zagami and Emma Pickering, first female IRB, Inflatable Rescue Boat, drivers to receive certificates, with instructor Shayne Barling and Darren Rowe. Lakes Entrance Victoriasurf lifesaving, volunteering

Digital image of the Grenville St tram shelter decorated for the Victorian Centenary celebrations in Ballarat 1938 - the shelter has been decorated to look like a boat. Has tram 18 or 19 entering Bridge St. In the background is Bailey Bros butcher, Magnet bakery, advert for city Life Mutual and Cooke & Co. finance on the Nicholl & Allan building, Grenville St., Bridge St Photo by Jane Holmes, from the Museum of Victoria website - see related documents. Note the scanning error in the trackwork.trams, tramways, centenary, ballarat, shelters, grenville st, tram 18, tram 19

.1 - Full colour, 100 page, book, A5 size titled "Ballarat Victoria's goldfields Official Visitor Guide", with an autumn view across Lake Wendouree. Gives details, maps accommodation listing, attractions etc of the Ballarat area. Pages30 and 31 detail the Ballarat Tramway Museum and the BTM advertisement on page 48. Published 2011 by The Ballarat Visitor Information Centre. .2 - Full colour 16 page brochure, titled "Ballarat where Parks and Gardens come to life" with rear fold out cover of map of the Ballarat and Buninyong district. Notes steam boats and trams on page 6.trams, tramways, ballarat, visitors, tourist guides, btm, gardens

The couple from this photo has gone through great hardship in the period they spent as refugees. They fled Southern Vietnam (Ca Mau) after the Vietnam War in late 1979 when the chinese have invaded and settled in Vietnam. They came on the #91 boat called Minh Hai 375 and arrived at the island on 10/22/1978. Prior to that they were ambushed by pirates who tried to rob, rape and completely take advantage of the vulnerable state the refugee people in. They recall having to purposely sink the boat so that they can be allowed into the country.This photo is great evidence to the family value Vietnamese refugees hold in the period of the period of fleeing the poor conditions that exists back in their country. People put their life online just to HOPE for a better life. Family portrait of a couple and first born child (son) in front of what look like their home at the time. This was taken at 1979 on the island called Pulau Bidong. It's a photo which has been laminated onto a light blue backing paper. The photo's corner has also been rounded with hand written label stating; 'Pulau - Bidong 1979' pulau - bidong 1977

William Withers and Edward Ryan drowned near Point Lonsdale on 19 October 1954 when they tried to enter the Rip at Port Phillip Heads against an ebb tide with a strong south-west wind blowing. They were sailing a large crayfishing boat, the 'Robert John', returning with a load of crayfish from King Island.Photograph shows William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryan who worked in the local Queenscliff and Victorian fishing industry. The commercial fishing industry developed in Queenscliff from the 1860s, with early fishing developing around the couta boat and barracouta fishing. Crayfishing and shark fishing also became important, especially as the supplies and popularity of barracouta as a commercial species waned. Local Queenscliff fishermen often fished outside Port Phillip into Bass Strait and had to navigate the dangerous entry to Port Phillip, known as 'The Rip', with its turbulent and variable water and weather conditions. This added to the everyday dangers of sailing faced by fishermen in their industry. The local fishermen often had the local knowledge of these waters, but the fishing community in Queenscliff also lived with the threat or fear that the Rip could rob them of one of their own. The entrance to Port Phillip with this Rip is the scene of many shipwrecks,often resulting in tragic loss of life or injuries, including passenger and cargo ships travelling to/from Melbourne and Geelong as well as accidents to local Queenscliff and Port Phillip sailors such as the fishermen or sea pilots. A B/W photograph of two Queenscliff fishermen, William (Bill) Withers and Edward Ryaninformation about photo and donation handwrittten on backfishermen, queenscliff fishermen, withers, william withers, ryan, edward ryan, robert john crayfish boat, shipwreck, port phillip

A colour photo of life at Queenscliffe for local fishermen, sailors and crew.Realism, historicalA colour photograph of 4 men, 2 fishing, 1 watching & 1 on the bow of a yacht moored at the wharf. Name of the yacht is not clear. Background shows the Swan Island bridge On the reverse - "NIL."wharf, bridge, sailing boat, fishermen

A colour photo of life at Queenscliffe for local fishermen, sailors and crew.Realism, historicalBlack & white photo of a hatted man on the beached wreck of a torpedo boat near a wharf aka Fisherman's Pier, in background, at Queenscliffe. Now, 2022, the pier is now buried under sand. On the reverse - "NIL."torpedo boat, beached, mr squires, pea crop transport

ww1, world war 1, hmas ballarat, life boats, hms phoenix

1917, hmas ballarat, hms lookout, life boats, plymouth, city of edinburgh, destroyer

Wes WALTERS (06 August 1928 - 19 August 2014) Born Mildura, Victoria From 1940 t0 1945 Wes Walters attended the Ballarat High School. He then studied architecture at the Gordon Institute in Geelong, followed by art at the Ballarat School of Mines (a division of the Ballarat School of Mines). During his time at the Ballarat Technical Art School (later Federation University Australia) Walters studied under Neville Bunning and Taylor Kelloch, and was awarded the Ballarat Ladies Art Association Scholarship in 1948. He next moved to Melbourne to work as a commercial artist with the George Patterson advertising agency. Each evening Walters studied life drawing at the Victoria Artists’ Society and taught himself anatomy. Wes Walters excelled in both abstract and realist art. He won the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Minnie Crouch Prize for watercolour art in 1953 and 1956. He won the prestigious Archibald Prize in 1879 for his portrait of Phillip Adams. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed water colour showing boats along a pier.wes walters, watercolour, boats, vessels, sailing, available, alumni, ballarat technical art school

Wes WALTERS (06 August 1928 - 19 August 2014) Born Mildura, Victoria From 1940 t0 1945 Wes Walters attended the Ballarat High School. He then studied architecture at the Gordon Institute in Geelong, followed by art at the Ballarat School of Mines (a division of the Ballarat School of Mines). During his time at the Ballarat Technical Art School (later Federation University Australia) Walters studied under Neville Bunning and Taylor Kelloch, and was awarded the Ballarat Ladies Art Association Scholarship in 1948. He next moved to Melbourne to work as a commercial artist with the George Patterson advertising agency. Each evening Walters studied life drawing at the Victoria Artists’ Society and taught himself anatomy. Wes Walters excelled in both abstract and realist art. He won the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Minnie Crouch Prize for watercolour art in 1953 and 1956. He won the prestigious Archibald Prize in 1879 for his portrait of Phillip Adams, and the sketch was completed tin preparation for that portrait. 2 This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed watercolour behind glass depicting moored sailing boats.Signed lower right 'W.R. Walters June 48' Sticker verso "Jaman the Picture Framer 84-88 Lt Collins Street Melbourne Phone Cent 4802"wes walters, watercolour, boats, coastal, sailing, alumni

This board was constructed to provide information about the history of Lorna Lodge and to display some photographs and a newspaper cutting relating to this. The photographs are (clockwise): Photograph of Lorna Lodge on December 26, 1969 with a man standing outside and three children on the ramp leading to the front door. Photograph of Miss Elizabeth Skene, oldest member, at the 60th anniversary of the Barwon Heads auxiliary. Newspaper cutting: Ocean Grove News. Luncheon to help the blind. Ocean Grove has its fair share of fundraising groups. And the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, Ocean Grove Auxiliary is up there with the most hardworking. Pictured at the auxiliary's recent meeting are president Lorna Walker, secretary Vera Montgomery and treasurer Grace Brown. Talking of fundraising, the auxiliary will hold a casserole luncheon at the Ocean Grove Bowling Club on Monday, June 6 at noon. Tickets are available at the door at $5. Photograph of 60th anniversary in 2002 of RVIB Barwon Heads Mrs Grace Brown President and Yvonne Conners of Geelong West with a cake marking the occasion. Photograph of Bonnie Cameron and Vera Montgomery, RVIB Members holding a picture of the boat shed at Barwon Heads. Photograph of RVIB Life Members Achievement Award, awarded in recognition of support from Barwon Heads Auxiliary. Presented by Governor of Victoria John Landy at Government House on March 26th, 2003. L-R: Lorraine Gleeson, Jill Smith, Bonnie Cameron, Alice Donally, Wyn O'Brian, Una Harding and Dawn White. Photograph of Mrs Lorna Walker. In 1979 a 7.2 sq holiday home on exhibition at the Melbourne Home Show was donated to the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind by Eureka Budget Homes Pty Ltd. The Ocean Grove - Barwon Heads Lions Club transported this home from Melbourne to it's present site in Barwon Heads, where since 1980, it was planned to be made available as a holiday home for the blind and visually impaired clients. Mr Keith Rikards the then president of Ocean Grove - Barwon Heads Lions Club and another member Mr John Van Den Eykel volunteered to carry out all maintenance. In 1942 Mrs Eric Russell formed an auxiliary for the blind in Barwon Heads and amongst these foundation members was Mrs Lorna Walker. Mrs Walker was married to the local butcher who also had trotting stables on their property. Of their two children, Nola and Barry, Nola had developed an eye problem, noted by Mrs Walker's friend Mrs Alberta Tutton, the then Victorian President of RVIB, with whom she met to play tennis with each week. Through this friendship Lorna became a valuable member of the RVIB and enjoyed 48 years with Barwon Heads, 18 of those years as President. Tragically killed in a car accident in 1990, the local auxiliary made the decision to name the holiday home 'Lorna Lodge', in memory of their hardworking member Mrs Lorna Walker. Today December 2004, The Barwon Heads RVIB Ladies give of their time to maintain this home and garden for the benefit of all visually impaired people.Image of board with photographs, text and newspaper cuttinglorna lodge, royal victorian institute for the blind

Life Governor certificates were given to those who supported the RVIB either through certain levels of financial contribution or by activities undertaken to support the institute. This is to certify that Mrs. Eileen Kempster has been appointed a Life Governor of the Institute. Charles Bennett, President S. Hedger, Executive Director1 x cream coloured page with brown writing and images (front view of St Kilda Road building across top, and pictures of children playing with boat, male working on carpet, female weaving rug and a nurse holding two babies along left-hand edge)Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Babies, Children and Adults St Kilda Road, Melbourne Patron: His Excellency The Governor of Victoria General Sir Dallas Brooks, K.C.B, C.M.G., D.S.O Patroness: Lady Brooks President: Dr Charles Bennett Vice-Presidents: G.H. Grimwade, Esq. G.E. Newton, Esq. Hon. Treasurer: Percy W. Briggs, Esq. Members of Board: Harold E. Brookes, Esq, JP C.L. Kimpton, Esq. Mrs C.H. Tutton W.H. Cowper, Esq Joseph Taylor, Esq E.V. Willis, Esq. Leighton Irwin, Esq. F.F. Knight, Esq. Superintendent & Secretary: Stannus W. Hedger, M.B.E. Secretary: Kenneth R. Bunn Recreation, Industry, Education, Nurseryroyal victorian institute for the blind, eileen kempster

Came to Australia from Glasgow in 1865 and ran from Portland to Melbourne, then to New Zealand when gold was discovered there. In 1880 ran on the Melbourne-Geelong passenger and freight service. A Crimean War ship she had many collisions and ‘incidents’ during her long life, and became known as a ‘collision specialist’.B&W photographship, boat, sea, river

Life Governor certificates were given to those who supported the RVIB either through certain levels of financial contribution or by activities undertaken to support the institute. In this example, William Hughes was awarded a governorship in March 1949.1 x cream coloured page with brown writing and images (front view of St Kilda Road building across top, and pictures of children playing with boat, male working on carpet, female weaving rug and a nurse holding two babies along left-hand edge)Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Babies, Children and Adults St Kilda Road, Melbourne Patron: His Excellency The Governor General of Victoria, Major-General Sir Winston Dugan, G.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O Patroness: Lady Dugan President: C.L. Kimpton, Esq. Vice-Presidents: Chas. W. Bennett, Esq. M.R.C.S. (Eng), F.R.A.C.S., R. Ramsay, Esq Hon. Treasurer: Percy W. Briggs, Esq. Members of Board: Harold E. Brookes, Esq, JP Mrs C.H. Tutton G.E. Newton, Esq G.H. Grimwade, Esq. W.H. Cowper, Esq Joseph Taylor, Esq E.V. Willis, Esq. Leighton Irwin, Esq. Superintendent & Secretary: Stannus W. Hedger, M.B.E. Recreation, Industry, Education, Nursery This is to certify that William Hughes Esq. has been appointed a Life Governor of the Institute. C.L. Kimpton President S. Hedger Superintendent & Secretaryroyal victorian institute for the blind, awards

A number of sketchbooks filled with sketches and paintings by Dr David Alexander. .29) Includes sketch portrait of Gerty McDowell, Stephen, Molly Bloom, Father Cowley S.J., Father Connel, The Lake at Burrumbeetdavid alexander, drawing, landscape, figure drawing, boats, merimbula, portraits, life drawing

East Beach looking Southeast beach, dune, sea, ocean, life saving, equipment, rubber boat, path

This article highlights the popularity of Lake Wendouree for leisure time activities and the account of a suicide in 1884.Elizabeth Murphy's suicide at Lake Wendouree contrasts with the usual happy reports of activities at the Lake and was selected over 100 years later perhaps to give another perspective on Ballarat Life.2/3 of a page of newspaper print with a large black and white picture, mid- page of people paddling in Lake Wendouree in 18884Nonejohn garner, doctor john garner, ballarat botanic gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, lake wendouree, boating, picnicking, paddling, suicide, elizabeth murphy, william pritchard, 1884, ballarat star, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat

Ill, p.87non-fictionHere in brief compass is the thrilling tale of air crew adventure told by its navigator, who was one of three Australian in a crew of six manning a Marauder aircraft operating from Africa over the Mediterranean. The aircraft becomes involved in combat, in which two enemy fighters are drive off, one emitting clouds of smoke; but the Marauder, too, is crippled, and comes down in the Mediterranean near the Italian Island of Ustica. Rescue from the sea is followed by the rigours of captivity in Fascist barracks and compounds, of travel through Italy, of sharing British air raids with their captors, assuming careless ease while their musical comedy soldier captors cannot conceal their unease. An ingeniously planned escape is successful; five prisoners break from the compound, and this party, with intrepidity and endurance, gain a liberty which is also a life of great hardship. Italian peasant life provides great interest, and friendly folk protect the adventurous band from the Fascists, while they meet at the coast a mysterious English Captain, who later proves to be a Commando officer on a mission; when this mission is accomplished, and not before, he helps the several groups of escapees to liberty. A motor torpedo boat calls at midnight and, within six months, home in Australiaworld war 1939-1945 - aerial operations - australia, world war 1939-1945 - prisoners of war

The grey painted heavy wooden, homemade box has a freehand inscription in black on outside, which reads ‘LEVINGS To MAAT IS’. The writing refers to Alan and Marlene Levings, who began their twenty-two year career in lightkeeping with a posting to Tasman Island, off Port Arthur, in the 1960s. After four years they moved to Maatsukyer Island off south-west Tasmania, Australia’s southern-most lightstation, followed by postings to South Bruny, Eddystone Point and Wilsons Promontory. The robust box journeyed with the Levings through their postings to five lightstations and came to rest at Wilsons Promontory when Alan retired. It is not known whether the box was used in an office or domestic context. The movement of people and objects is a significant and unique theme that runs through the history of Australia’s lightstations. This historical process relates Victoria to the much bigger story of Australia’s network of lightstations. Alan Levings has been described as an extremely interesting character and artist. When Levings was a lightkeeper at Wilson’s Promontory, delivery of goods was by boat, then off the boat by a winch and onto the back of a truck. For this reason, packing boxes in earlier years had to be extremely robust. Today, anything that is not carried into Wilson’s Promontory Lightstation by foot, comes by helicopter, eradicating the need for heavy packing boxes such as Levings’. This humble box has first level contributory significance for its reliable provenance which traces its journey through five lightstations; for its association with a former lightkeeping family; and for contributing to an understanding of the pattern of lightstation life.Wooden box, light blue/grey painted. Made of horizontal pieces of timber with some tin reinforcment on the sides. Writing in black on side of box.On side of box in freehand,"LEVINGS To MAAT IS"

Les Pound Shield Donor: Victorian Jubilee Controlling Body Deed of Gift: In 1966 in recognition of his great contribution in developing the Jubilee class and to its ongoing success over many years, the Victorian Jubilee Controlling Body donated the Les Pound Shield. It is to be awarded to the best Victorian Jubilee yacht competing in the annual Huntingfield Cup. Les Pound was one of the original owners, building his own BJ4 Aeolus in 1935. In his later years, to minimize the task of maintaining a timber boat, he purchased a fiberglass boat which he named after his wife Stella. He was made an honorary life member in 1972. First Winner: Aeolus BJ4, L. N. Pound 1966 jubilees, pound, aeolus