WARRNAMBOOL'S 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 November1884 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 fund raising 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 court house 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 historic 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 Historic 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 art works 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 percent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 percent reference and 40 percent 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 has 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 1850’s to the late 1950’s 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 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, and to 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. As with many Mechanics' Institutes in Australia, the one which operated in Warrnambool was established and overseen for many years by key individuals associated with the development of the city itself. The WMI publication collection is historically significant because of its association with local people, places and the key historical themes in the development of Warrnambool of rural development, industry, farming, education, and community. The collection documents and illustrates the changing interests, focus and tastes of Victorians, especially those in regional cities. Generally the individual items in the collection are not particularly rare, as examples of all probably exist in other public collections in Victoria. It is primarily because there are so very few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, which lends this overall collection its significance. Many items in the WMI Collection have the potential to support further research, both as individual objects and through the collection in its entirety. This material is significant for its ability to assist in the interpretation of the history of the area and adds to the general understanding of the development of the township. Many components of the WMI publication collection complement and reinforce the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Collection, the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection, and that in the Warrnambool Historical Society, and also contribute to a clearer understanding of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute collections. This will greatly enhance the appreciation of the few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections across Victoria, and also in New South Wales. The similarities and differences between the small number of collections that have survived can provide further insights into how the people of Victoria in general, and Warrnambool in particular, constructed a civic culture of adult learning to foster an informed citizenry. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is of both local and state significance. Australian Aborigines Has hand written "Presented to the Warrnambool Mechancis Institue and Free Library with compliments from The Author 1881" Author: James Dawson Publisher: George Robertson Date: 1881 Label on spine with typed text RA 572.9945 DAW Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Librarywarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool public library, australian aborigines, james dawson, indigenous people

A Sketch of the Early Digging Days and Rogers of Eaglehawk. Signed in front cover, 'compliments of Hugh Anderson, June 2004'. Dear Old Bendigo was first published by John Robshaw, Bendigo 1892.Thomas Brackenbendigo, history, early digging days, bendigo, gold, gold mining

Buff coloured program for Coronation Celebrations, Freemasons' Hall, Melbourne, 17th. June, 19 1953. On bottom of program 'with the compliments of Wor. Bro. N.J. Oliver, Master of Zenith Lodge No. 52'bendigo, clubs, lodge

Shield shape wooden plaque on which affixed presentation plate: "With the Compliments from Colonel Uthai Chunhapesya Deputy Chief of the Reserve Affairs Department February 1987. and, The bage of the Reserve Affairs Department Refer descriptionplaque, india, plaque, india

Notebook Holder, black leather 6¼" x 4¼" Has place for pencil down side to keep folder closed. Has "With The Compliments of The City Brick & Tile Company" in gold writing on front.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

'Muddy Boots, Inglewood Football Club, from the goldfields era to 1980. 79 pages with photographs, illustrations. Inscribed on front page' to the Bendigo Historical Society, with compliments, Allan Nixon 281/1989Allan M. Nixonclubs and associations, football, inglewood football club, inglewood, football, sport

Hitherto, Bendigo Baptist Church 1859-1894 43 pages with photographs, illustrations. Signed by W.C. Harry. Inscribed ' to the Royal Historical Society of Victoria ( Bendigo Branch ) with compliments, W.C. Harry 1984.'W.C. Harrychurch, baptist, history

Souvenir Booklet - 'My Second Tour of the World -1924' (G A Pethard). Printed by the Cambridge Press, 1925. Reprinted from the 'Bendigo Advertiser' Photographic illustrations. Approx 75 pages. 'With the Author's Compliments'person, individual, pethard family

Small booklet with 17 baby photos with shopping list. With compliments of W. Grenfell 343 Bond Street Long Gully, Bendigo. Phone 1831. Inside photos of babies and various meat recipes.business, retail, w. greenfell

Belonged to Charles FORBES, Swallows baker and uncle of donor.Small, tin matchbox (Swallow & Ariell promotional item). Cover has full colour printed insert of a swallow superimposed on a Uneeda biscuit - 'with compliments from Swallow & Ariell Ltd - The Uneeda Bakers'industry - manufacturing, charles forbes, swallow & ariell ltd

Donald Clark Collection.Booklet produced by Bet Bet Shire with title 'Golden Triangle Bicycle Rides'. Gives information about bike and walking routes in the region and local history. A Shire 'With Compliments' card is stapled to the cover.tourism, recreation, cycling

The Shire of Whittlesea obtained a grant from the federal government to investigate the potential development of a park to the west of the Plenty River in 1976. A regional tip site and the Shire of Diamond Valley's Yarrambat Park were handed over to the MMBW to form the existing Metropolitan Park in 1986. A long term project to develop the park further is to commence in 1990.2 p. text, map and col. illus."With compliments of Sherryl Garbutt M.P. Member for Greensborough" (rubber stamp)plenty gorge park

POSTCARD SENT TO MRS L. MCLENNAN CLUNES. FROM US. MARYBOROUGH, ROCKHAMPTON QUEENSLANDSTREET SCENE OF FRASER STREET CLUNES. BURNS HOTEL, E.S.A.BANK BUILDING (NOW R.S.L. HALL) AND STATE SAVINGS BANK. ALSO VISIBLE IS SEVEN STARS HOTELCOMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON FROM ALL AT MARYBOROUGH, ROCKHAMPTON QUEENSLAND MS.postcard, e.s.a. bank now r.s.l. building, greeting card

The Tivoli Theatre was an open air theatre located behind the ANA building on View Street in Bendigo which began operating in 1910. This pamphlet features portraits of popular silent film actors of the day such as Paul Capellani noted French star and Miss Florence Turner American actress alongside tobacco slogans such as 'For Aroma, Sweetness and Flavour.' The 'Seasons Greetings' message from the Tivoli Theatre is limited to the front page which features illustrations of a fairy, Father Christmas and various Australian characters.Fold out, double sided, two colour printed brochure promoting Perfection Tobacco and the Tivoli Theatre Bendigo. Features photographs of a variety of actors and characters endorsing the tobacco.Xmas 1912 / With the Compliments of the Season / From Tivoli Theatre, Bendigomaking a nation exhibition, city of greater bendigo commerce, city of greater bendigo leisure

Reprint of a paper presented at a Technical Conference of the Institution of Engineers Australia, titled "W(h)ither Electric Traction? "A Philosophical Appraisal"", five pages (print on one side only) and then stapled within a printed cover. Written by Chris Steele and Roger Wheaton. Looks at the history of electric traction, its uses and applications to Adelaide. Has tables for 1965 and 1986. No conference or publication date shown on document.On front cover in ink "4J33" and "with my compliments Chris Steele"trams, tramways, transportation, planning, adelaide, technical paper

Items are part of the Collection of "William Anthony Theodore DSM", PM 2981. Refer Cat No. 7926P for service details.A white set of pepper and salt shakers with description and emblem of Rats of Tobruk Association in black and gold on the side. Functional objects with lids on bottom.Inscribed "Compliments WA Branch - 33rd Anniversary, Adelaide 1974".tobruk, 33rd aniversary, william anthony theodore dsm, souvenir

Originally holiday home of Hon. Mr W Pearson (MP?)|Also a larger second copy|This is the before paired photograph used in the 150 year, lakes Entrance 1858-2008 display.|The after paired photograph number is 0132.1.|Also one 12 x 16 framed photograph used in room displayBlack and white photograph of Victoria House Guesthouse, showing extensive gardens, gable roof with deck chairs on veranda surrounding main building. Lakes Entrance VictoriaWith compliments from Victoria House, Mrs V Russell Symmonsguesthouses, tourism, architecture, room display

Dr Margaret Alison Mackie travelled overseas in 1959, for both work-related and recreational purposes. The diary details her impressions of hospitals she visited (sometimes with sketches), her thoughts on the RCOG Congress, and general accounts of her travels. Both Dr Mackie and her sister, Isobel, were keen diarists. Dr Margaret Alison Mackie (1910-1991) was in active practice between 1936 and 1970. She was a Fellow of the College, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to medicine in 1975. Blue leatherbound travel diary. Printed text on the front cover of the diary reads 'Travel Diary/WITH COMPLIMENTS/EDWARDS DUNLOP/AND COMPANY LIMITED'. Diary is filled with handwriting detailing the activities of the diarist during 1959.

Wall calendar from 1975. Sepia photo of a Bendigo tram. With compliments from Gillies pastrycooks, Howard Place, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo 3550. Wholesale phone 439533. Retail phone 434965. Box 222.business, retail, gillies