This letter, the first air mail letter sent to Warrnambool, was written by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir David Valentine Hennessy and carried by the aviator, Basil Watson on the first flight to Warrnambool January 24th 1917. The letter was delivered to the Mayor of Warrnambool, Cr Webb.There were several other letters delivered at the same time but this is the important official one. Basil Watson was a pioneer aviator who built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. Rotary Gnome engine. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. In Warrnambool Watson amazed the crowd with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Basil Watson died when he crashed his plane into the sea near Point Cook, just two months after he landed in Warrnambool. This letter is of the utmost significance being the first air mail letter delivered to Warrnambool. It is an important memento of the first aeroplane flight into Warrnambool by the pioneer aviator Basil Watson. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded in two to make four pages. It has handwriting in black ink on two pages. The writing is a little faded. The first page has the logo of the Melbourne Town Hall. The pages are partly torn at the folds. ‘Town Hall, Melbourne, 21/1/17. Lord Mayor’s Room, Dear Mr Mayor, I have much pleasure in sending you greetings by aeroplane piloted by my friend’s son, Mr Basil Watson. I hope when the cruel war is over and victory crowns our efforts, we all in the C’wealth will be able to fly from one state to the other. With best wishes for the New Year, …….. (signature indecipherable), D.V. Hennessy. His Worship the Mayor of Warrnambool.’pioneer aviation in the western district, basil watson, history of warrnambool

This is a reprint of the first edition of The Weekly Times – originally printed on September 11th 1869. The paper was first published by the Daily Telegraph Newspaper Company and was described as ‘a Journal of literature, sport, agriculture, science and politics’. In 1892 it was acquired by the Herald Newspaper group which has been publishing The Weekly Times ever since. The Weekly Times is now regarded as the most important newspaper especially published for those living outside of Melbourne in rural Victoria. This newspaper reprint is of minor interest as it is a copy of the first edition of a newspaper that is widely read in rural Victoria, including Warrnambool and the Western District.This is a reprint of the first edition of the Melbourne newspaper, the Weekly Times (1869). It has 16 pages and includes news items, advertisements, black and white sketches, poems, agricultural information, ladies’ columns etc. The first page has the masthead and motto of the paper – ‘The Liberal Reviseth Liberal Things’. The paper is yellowed with age and some pages are tattered at the edges. The front page has originally had a stamp on it from the Melbourne Public Library. the weekly times, victorian newspapers, warrnambool history

This is a programme for a Service of Intercession in Relation to the War. It was held by the Methodist Church (Victoria and Tasmania Conference) in October 1915. The Wesleyan Methodist Conference at Birmingham, England requested that Sunday October 31st 1915 be set aside as a Day of Thanksgiving and Intercession throughout Britain and all other countries in the British Empire. The service was held to seek Divine intercession and aid for those on active military service in World War One and for the families of these men and women. This programme is of interest as the 1915 service would have been held in Methodist Churches throughout Victoria and Tasmania and this would have included the Warrnambool Methodist Church. World War One was a highly significant event in the history of Australia and Warrnambool, along with all other places in Australia, was affected deeply by the war with many young local people enlisting and many dying on active service.These are two sheets of paper folded in two to make eight pages. The pages contain a programme for the Methodist Church service in October 1915. The printing is in blue on a whitish/bluish background. The front cover is edged with blue lines. There is a blue stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the front cover. The programme has been stapled but the staples have been removed. methodist church, world war one

We have limited information on Mrs Wilson, piano teacher except that a Mrs A Wilson operated from Merri Street in 1904. Plaques such as these were hung outside premises to denote where people could access services and were often used by professional people and services. A link to one of Warrnambool's early music teachers.Small brass plate screwed to brown painted wooden board. Rectangular. Metal is stamped with name and details and filled in black.Mrs Wilson Dip Mus Piano. Rennie and Dodds 92 Little Collins St stamped on R H bottom corner . gauranteed filling stamped on lower left edge.warrnambool, mrs wilson piano teacher, mrs wilson pianoforte teacher, warrnambool pianoforte teachers 1904

This is a Grade V Arithmetic book used by George Bonnett at Allans Forest School. The Bonnett family farmed in the Mepunga area on the Childers Cove Road. The Allans Forest State School, number 1086, was established in 1871 and closed in 1993. The first Head Teacher was Mr Bradhurst. The school closed in 1903 and re-opened in 1905 as a half-time school with Mepunga East and in 1908 it resumed as a full time school. This book is significant because it was used by George Bonnett at the Allans Forest State School and is a memento of both the Bonnett family of Mepunga and the Allans Forest State School, a school no longer existing. It is also of antiquarian interest as an example of arithmetic school text books used early in the 20th century. This is soft cover book of 128 pages. The cover is grey with black print and black lines around the edges of the front cover. The book has a prefatory note, arithmetical exercises and advertisements for other school text books published by Whitcombe and Tombs. The cover is torn and soiled and partly ripped away. There is handwriting in black ink on the first page.‘George H. Bonnett, Allans Forest State School’bonnett family, mepunga allans forest state school history of warrnambool

This is the Eighth Reader in the series of school readers introduced in 1928 for the Education Department of Victoria and used extensively in Victorian schools in the early to mid 20th century decades. This copy was in use as a Form Two (Year 8) class set at St. Ann’s College, Warrnambool in the 1970s .This book is of general interest, being the final book in the series of school readers that were in widespread use in Victorian schools from the late 1920s to the 1950s. The book is also of interest because it was used at St. Ann’s College, Warrnambool in the 1970s and has the signatures of nine pupils who used the book at that time. St. Ann’s College, the Catholic secondary school for girls in Warrnambool in the 1970s, is now incorporated into the co-educational Catholic secondary school in Warrnambool – Emmanuel College. This is a hard cover book of 260 pages. It has a Contents page, an Acknowledgments page, reading material of prose and verse, including extracts from books of well-known authors and Notes and Explanations at the back of the book. The cover is brown with the emblem of the Education Department of Victoria on the front and the book is missing its spine covering. The book has many black and white photographs and sketches. The inscription and signatures on the first page are handwritten in black, blue and red ink.‘Form Two St. Ann’s College’ victorian school readers, history of warrnambool

This book has been written by Edward Vidler (1863-1942), a publisher, editor, writer and journalist. He was born in England and was in Geelong in the 1880s where he produced a commemorative volume on that city. He was living in Warrnambool in the early years of the 20th century and was the Secretary of the Warrnambool and District Progress League and the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He later lived in Melbourne where he edited magazines and published his own and other writings. He was especially interested in the promotion of the arts and was a keen naturalist. He was a foundation member of the group that established the Maranoa Native Gardens in Balwyn, Melbourne. The writer of this book, Edward Vidler, was important in the history of Warrnambool for two main reasons:- 1. In 1907 he initiated and organized the establishment of the Warrnambool Pioneer Honour Board featuring portraits of 204 pioneer men. This board still exists. 2. In 1907 he produced a publication called ‘Warrnambool Past and Present – Sixty Years of Progress’. It celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of Warrnambool and contained 88 pages, 120 illustrations and photographs and many advertisements. The publication is noted for its historical accuracy, the way it complements and adds to Richard Osburne’s 1887 history of Warrnambool and its presentation of historical material that may otherwise have been lost. Both of Vidler’s initiatives described above are of the utmost importance in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 270 pages. The cover is green with black printed material on the covers and the spine. The book has a Preface, 24 chapters of text and a Bibliography. There are advertisements for other books on the last page and the back cover. The cover is stained and faded and partly torn in places and some of the inside pages are stained. The Australian Debateredward vidler, history of warrnambool

This uniform was worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2.. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Grey fitted, lined jacket with long sleeves, collar and lapels. Three front metal buttons buttons and two smaller buttons on each sleeve. Dark green epaulette with four metal buttons on each shoulder (Right side is faded). Two hip pockets with one button fastener. One internal pocket with small grey button. Unit patches on each sleeve and four inverted service chevrons on right sleeve at wrist. Two ribbon bars containing 5 Campaign Ribbons on left side of front, attached with standard 'brooch' fitting . Belt (same material as jacket) passes through two loops on back of jacket and is fastened by two buttons, hidden when belt is fastened. Metal buttons stamped with map of Australia with crown above and the words Australian Military Forces around. Makers label inside back below collar: " /tailors and habit makers, J .RAVENSDALE & SON Nicholas Bldg Swanston Street Melbourne". Name of owner handwritten "Sister Ride:"

This shirt is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Cream Cotton Shirt, long sleeves and separate collar. Front fastening with five bakelite buttons. Cuff of each sleeve fastened with one bakelite button. Button hole on back of neck to attach collar.Makers mark on back neck "1180 1943 Made in Australia.

This Collar is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Cream Cotton Shirt Collar with buttonhole to attach the collar to shirt with stud. One button hole on each end of collar band for shirt stud fastenerSize "131/2" printed on neck band underside. Name of owner "W.M. RIDE" printed on top side of neck band.

This Skirt is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Grey A line skirt, bak fastening. Five press stud fasteners and two hook and eye fasteners. One fabric hook on each side for hanging.

This glove is one of a pair and is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Brown leather and suede glove. One of a pair, leather palm with suede top.inside mark "Size 7"

This glove is one of a pair and is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Brown leather and suede glove. One of a pair, leather palm with suede top.inside mark "Size 7"

This hat is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Grey felt hat with 60mm brim. Brown hat band 30mm wide with narrow stripes top and bottom. Narrow stripes red and grey at top of band, grey and red at bottom of band.Inner hat band marked with "N231, 6 7/8, 1942"

This ticket is part of a three piece set. There is also an Army Uniform (jacket and trousers) which are associated with this item. The ticket was found within one of the front pocekts of the jacket. There are three chevrons on the sleeve of this jacket which signifies three years of service. The unit patches on the shoulders may denote that the wearer was part of the Army Serice Corps Divisional Unit one. The ticket shows that the serviceman was at some point travelling in uniform on defence leave in a first class carriage from Spencer Street to either Moreland, Newmarket, North Carlton, Northcote or Westgarth.As an historic train ticket with an association to Victoria and the Army Service Corps this item is of local historic and social significance.A rectangular light brown paper card with printed ink inscriptions on the front and back.Horizontal inscriptions on the front in black ink: SPENCER STREET / (1 [symbol of a cross] ) TO / MORELAND / NEWM’RK’T / Nth. CARLN. NORTHCOTE / or / WESTGARTH / FIRST CLASS / Not transferable to Another Person. / PENALTY £20. / (the numbers 6706 surrounded by black rectangular backgrounds) Vertical inscriptions on the front in black ink along the left edge: Single First Class Single Vertical inscriptions on the front in red ink along the left edge: TRAVELLING IN UNIFORM Veritcal inscriptions on the front in red ink along the right edge: DEFENCE LEAVE Horizontal inscriptions on the back in black ink (this inscripion is right side up along the top edge and also upside down along the bottom edge): 13F E441army, uniform, jacket, army service corps, asc, divisional unit one, division one, train ticket, train, ticket, defence leave, defnce leave ticket

Hard CoverLimited Edition (Details see image DSCF6180.JPG) Dedication Panel (Details see image DSCF6181.JPG) Frontiespiece signed by Author (Details see image DSCF6182.JPG)

Circular enamel on metal badge; text in black and red on white background."How dare you presume I'm heterosexual".

Black and white photograph of three young men in a nightclub.

White text on a rainbow flag background. Additional text: "Authorised by Luke Halikari, Secretary Victorian Trades Hall Council, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South, 3053. Printed by Kosdown Printing, 10 Rocklea Dr, Port Melbourne, 3207."marriage, marriage equality

Digital file; JPEG; 4.00 MBmarriage, marriage equality

Image of a megaphone and two placards reading 'Equal love' and 'Love knows no gender'. Additional text: "1 pm Sat 24 November State Library cnr Latrobe & Swanston. Endorsed by Victorian Trades Hall Council, National Union of Students."marriage, marriage equality

Acquired at an Equal Love (Melbourne) rally in 2015.Finger painted rainbow on white card, with text inscribed in black marker.Verso: "painted by Will (age 3)", signed with an "X"marriage equality, marriage

transsexual, transgender

aboriginal and torres strait islander

Offset lithographic print. Poster is annotated version of campaign poster for the 'Inter-Campus Campaign Against Violence'.Event annotations at the base of the poster read: "Thursday 12th Sept / Melbourne University / Concrete Lawns (in front of Union Building) / Speakers - 12.30pm." Back of poster includes a letter from to Cheryl [Berkovitch] compere on 3CR Radio's Gay and Lesbian Program, regarding speakers for the day coming from Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA), Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA) and Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination (GLAD), and asking for promotion of the event. The letter is signed Melbourne University Feminist Collective, Melbourne University Lesbian Collection and Gaysoc.

BAM (Bisexual Awareness in Melbourne) was a group of bisexual individuals and allies that provided information and support for bisexuals, their partners, and friends. BAM provided newsletters, and ran social, discussion, and political groups. bisexuality, bisexuals

leather, bdsm, fetish

leather, bdsm, fetish

The use of the colours purple, green and white reference the colours used during the first wave feminist movement initially in the UK by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), and subsequently emblematic of the Australian women’s movement.Graphic illustration of a naked female seated figure in purple, white and red, against a background with 'rays' of purple, green and white. Main text in red, with additional text at base in purple.Additional text: "A woman's place is… …in the struggle : 24th consecutive rally and march : 6:30pm steps of Parliament House : Dance afterwards 8:30pm Brunswick Town Hall (cnr. Sydney Rd. + Dawson St.)."women's liberation

Poster features a purple and white photograph of a group of women marching at a rally, against a white background, with a purple line border, and text in purple at the base.Additional text: "Meet: March 8th at Assembly Hall, 156 Collins Street, 7.30pm. Meet: March 10th: City Square, 10am. Women of the world unite!"women's liberation