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 Beginnings of Government in Australia Author: By Authority Publisher: Government Printer Sydney Date: 1913 The label on the spine cover with typed text R.A. 994.04 BEG 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 beginnings of government in australia

Business Card for Sydney William Newman, Engineer. 86 Dow Street, Port Melbourne.s w newman & co, sydney william newman, business and traders - engineering

With an introduction by Gary Presland. Extracts of manuscripts held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney and published with permission.Maps, b&w illustrationsgeorge augustus robinson

Colour slide in a mount. Elizabeth Farm, Rosehill, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaMount Made in Enngland / Encircled 18 (Handwritten)nsw, slide

A letter detailing parts of Anatol Kagan's entry for the Sydney Opera House design competition.ink, paper

Black and white photograph of George Skogli, wife Vera nee Allen and baby Sydneygenealogy

Australian coastal mapsAustralian coastal mapsCoastal 'soundings' map between Sydney & Brisbane, from an unknown book, pre-1987.Reverse " NIL "old maps of australian coast

Black and white photograph of the River Yarra at Kew taken by Sydney Walter Jackson in 1953Nilyarra river -- kew (vic.)

Programme of 1962 Australian Championships, played White City Sydney. Materials: Ink, Papertennis

Programme of 1963 Australian Championships, played White City Sydney. Materials: Ink, Papertennis

Household Items - Jar with metal lid. Iodex (Menley & James Ltd North Sydney)stawell

Photograph shows a cable tram or cable train, consisting of a grip car or dummy along with a bogie trailer (No. 473) outside the Brunswick cable tram or car house with seven gripmen or conductors and possibly a manager around the grip car. The grip car has the destination of Royal Park. Yields information about the Brunswick cable line and the Brunswick Depot. Black and White Cable tram Brunswick Depot Sydney Road reproduced from a Newspaper.sydney road, trams, tramways, cable trams, brunswick depot, crews, grip men, conductors, tram 473

Boyd discusses the role of Sydney and its Strategic Plan. He touches on floor space ratio but focuses on the goal of enticing residents to return to the inner city as the real challenge of the plan.Original manuscript of the article ‘Sydney’s Sneaky Strategic Plan’, published in The Sunday Australian, 15.8.1971.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 11 pagesThe last page is a redraft of the third last page.sydney, strategic plan for sydney, urbanisation, decentralisation, city, suburbs, master plan, harry seidler, floor space ratio, inner city residential, robin boyd, manuscript

A large green John Sands Pty. Ltd. 1837-1967 '130 years of fine printing' anniversary calendar. The calendar displays some prints of Australian locations including Sydney 1886, Melbourne 1857, Brisbane, Tasmania and Barossa Ranges. Also contains an outline of the history of John Sands company.John Sands Pty. Ltd.australia, history, prints, lydia chancellor, collection, calendar, john sands pty. ltd., printing, history, australian history, prints, sydney, melbourne, kangaroo point brisbane, barossa ranges

A black and white photograph of Australian Navy Sea King Wessex helicopters prepare to take off the flight deck of the "Vung Tau Ferry" HMAS Sydney to carry out anti-submarine sweeps around the Sydney and her destroyer escort.photograph, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, wessex (helicopter), gibbons collection catalogue

This is one photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection. Allan worked on the Goonawarra during 1946 working between Sydney, Melbourne, Palmyro Island, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Panama Canal, Falmouth, Le Havre and Goteborg.The Allan Charles Quinn collection is a collection of photographs and letters that provide a very intimate portrait of life at sea for a young man in the period following World War II.Sepia toned photograph of bow view of Goonawarra including anchor ropes and nets hanging from the side.Black ink on reverse: Bow view of Goonawarra/ in Melbourne/ discharging oil from/ Long Beach/ 13 Jan 1946allan-charles-quinn, goonawarra, sydney, melbourne, palmyro-island, san-francisco, los-angeles, panama-canal, falmouth, le-havre, goteborg

Contains full colour photographs of Australian & New Zealand trams - Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Hobart, Dunedin, Christchurch Trolley bus, Brisbane. Includes photos of trams that visited Melbourne - Porto 018, Lisbon C008, and Adelaide Flexity 111 on test at Preston Workshops. Also includes a photo of two of C2 class trams, in their Bumblebee livery/Demonstrates production of calendars featuring tram photographs, with photographs of trams on test in Melbourne.Wall Calendar - heavy card covers, 28 gloss art pages inside, titled "Trams - 2010" with a punched hole along the top edge to enable wall use.tramways, melbourne, adelaide, sydney, dunedin, christchurch, brisbane, hobart, c2 class

HMS Susan sailed from the Port of London on the 23rd September 1835. She carried 394 male convicts and a guard of officers and 30 rank and file of the 28th (North Gloucestershire) regiment, arriving in Sydney on 8th February 1836. Samuel Windridge, who was born in Warwickshire in 1817, was a Private in the Regiment on board the ‘Susan’. He served in various places: Sydney, Moreton Bay (Brisbane) and Port Phillip (Melbourne). He was discharged from the Regiment in 1842 with the rank of Sergeant. After his marriage he settled in Victoria and by 1852 he was often in charge of the gold escort from Bendigo. In 1854 he retired from the Gold Commission and settled in Kyneton. In 1860 the Kyneton Mounted Rifle Corps was formed with Samuel Windridge as one of its earliest members. In 1862 the ladies of Kyneton presented a standard to the Rifle Corps. In 1976 the Shire of Kyneton presented the Kyneton Colours to the 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment Museum. In 1862 the whole of the Victorian Horse was amalgamated into one Regiment: The Prince of Wales Light Horse. Samuel Windridge rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Kyneton Troop of the regiment. He died in 1896, aged 79 years, This painting is a gift from his Great Grand-daughters Mrs Mary Hopper and Miss Jean Baldwin. Framed reproduction of painting of HMS Susan. Wood frame, glass frontA V Gregory on proper left bottom corner of print On bottom right of print: H.M.S Susan 'Southward of the Cape' Arrived in Sydney Feby 1836paintings, kyneton, prints, hms susan, samuel windridge, a v gregory

This image of the Ralph Falkiner’s Mueller Petrol-Electric Road Train was taken in Wodonga in February 1914. Imported from Germany by Mr Ralph S Falkiner in late 1913, the train’s inventor, Major W A Mueller with two assistants, came to Melbourne to assemble then commission the train. The train cost Mr Falkiner about £13,000 plus £4,591 import duties. The Falkiner family were sheep breeders in the Western Riverina and he hoped to use the road train primarily to convey wool to the railways for despatch to Sydney. The train was 216 feet long, weighed 43.5 tons with a top speed loaded of 6-8m/h and petrol consumption up to two gallons per mile. Its first Australian journey was to haul 50 tons of cargo to Edmondson & Co at Wagga Wagga, 277 miles away. The journey from Melbourne was plagued with problems including broken cylinders and crank shaft and overheating as it was not designed for Australian climatic conditions. Three months after leaving Melbourne it arrived in Wodonga. A series of problems between Springhurst and Wodonga, including broken cylinders and valves caused an eight day delay. Some of the cargo was off-loaded in Albury, then after repairs the train continued on to Wagga where it arrived in May 1914. After unloading there, the road train was taken to Mr Falkiner's Groongal Station, near Hay and subsequently made several long trips into drought-stricken areas or the Western Riverina. Eventually the dream collapsed when the engines gave out after the train bogged in the sticky black soil of the Hay plain with 251 bales of wool on board. The train was finally railed back to Melbourne and stored but destroyed when the warehouse burnt down. In this photo, the road train is drawn up outside the Wodonga Stores and Bakery owned and operated by George Leighton. Mr Leighton began his business opposite the Terminus Hotel in Sydney Street, Wodonga in 1885. His business included a general store, stocking groceries, ironmongery, drapery, crockeryware, boots and shoes as well as a bakery. He was very actively involved in the community and served on the Wodonga Council for 18 years including three terms as Wodonga Shire President in 1901 – 02, 1910-11 and 1913-14. He was also Chairman of the Wodonga Waterworks Trust for several terms. Mr. Leighton also took a prominent part in the movement to establish a Public Library in Wodonga. His other involvements including being a Founder of the Wodonga Lodge of Freemasons, Honorary Treasurer of the Wodonga Bulldogs Football Club and Secretary of the Wodonga Racing Club. Mr Leighton passed away in Wodonga in 1916.This image is significant because it records a rare event in Wodonga and an experiment in Australian road transport.Black and white images of the Falkiner Road Train in Wodonga and on its first journey from Melbourne to Wagga, NSW It is taken in front of the Wodonga Stores and Bakery operated by George Leighton in Sydney Street, Wodonga.falkiner electric train, early road transport, high street wodonga, george leighton

Welcome Aboard Intercapital Daylight Express brochure for the rail trip (Sydney to Melbounrne) timetable and three maps Sydney to Yass Junction Yass Junction to Albury Albury to Melbourne Bi-fold brochure, blue/red/yellow printing on white paper

A black and white photograph of George St, Sydney, NSW, Australia 1971. Diggers ofthe 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, march through the city of Sydney, through a ticker tape welcome, past the City hall and the movie theatre district.photograph, 7 rar, 7th battalion, parade, gibbons collection catalogue, sydney parade

Hanro Bendigo Factory Print. On cream card printed in brown ink is a pencil drawing of the factory front in Hargreaves Street. Single story with *Hanro Austral, Bendigo Knitting Mills Pty Ltd* on the face. Two doors either end with a man standing in the right hand door . 11 windows facing Hargreaves Street. The picture has a car of the day, two people walking along the path and a lady in the foreground. Trees either side. Underneath the Print is Proposed New Mills In Bendigo, William Bockli. C.E. Melbourne. On the back is a blue stamp with *Reproduced by Commercial Copying Company, Temple Court, 422 Collins Street Melbourne. Phones: P2373, P2381 and at 8A Castlereagh St., Sydney Box 116AProduced by: Commercial Copying Company Temple Court, 422 Collins Street Melbourne. Phones F2373, F2381 and at 8a Castlereagh Street, Sydneyhanro, clothing, hanro knitting mill building, hanro knitting mills. hargreaves street. william bockli.c.e. melbourne

Photograph of the side of the Goonawarra loading wool at Melbourne. Allan Charles Quinn worked on the Goonawarra during 1946. The Goonawarra worked between Sydney, Melbourne, Palmyro Island, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Panama Canal, Falworth, Le Havre and Goteborg.The Allan Charles Quinn collection is a collection of letters and photographs taken and written when Allan went to sea at 16 years of age. They provide a snapshot of life at sea in the period immediately following World War II.Black and white photograph of the Goonawarra at berth in Melbourne, loading wool.Black in on reverse: Goonawarra loading wool at/ Melbourne 13 Jan 1946allan-charles-quinn, goonawarra, sydney, melbourne, palmyro-island, san-francisco, los-angeles, panama-canal, falmouth, le-havre, goteborg

Speaking Made Easy is a registered name of The Penguin Club of Australia Inc which was founded in Sydney in 1937 by women for women. The late M. Jean Ellis O.B.E. was the co-founder of the Penguin Club and developed the organisation in each State and Territory of Australia, and in Port Moresby and Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea. In an era when women were not so active in public life, one woman’s courage and foresight has inspired members during the decades to continue to support women to develop their speaking skills and become articulate, confident women in all aspects of their lives. Well-known Penguin Club members have included the late Margaret Whitlam, wife of the late former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam; Mary Tenison Woods, first female lawyer and public notary in SA; and Gertrude Johnson, Australian coloratura soprano and founder of the National Theatre in Melbourne.Grey cover booklet. The booklet has twenty pages and is titled the constitution of the Penguin Club of Australia. Incorporating amendments up to September 30th, 1949. published by Oxford Press, 2-4 Bedford St. Sydney. Aileen and John Ellison Collection.penguin club, consitution

Black and white photograph of Australian surfer Nat Young with Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku at Bondi Beach. The Duke was guest of honour at the 1963 Australian Surfing Championships which were run from 22-23rd November.A rare photographs of two surfing legends together. Young was three years away from winning his World Title in San Diego while the Duke played a key role as an Elder to the surfing community world wide during the twilight years of his life.Black and white photograh of Nat Young and Duke Kahanamoku in 1963 at Bondi Beach, Sydney, AustraliaBlack and white photographnat young, duke kananamoku, 1963 australian surfing championships, bondi beach