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Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Wesleyan Church, Unknown
On the 16th April the foundation stone of the Wesleyan Church was laid and does not appear to have been marked. It was opened for public worship on Oct 13th 1867. Rev Ken Moore of Melbourne was the preacher, only 6 months after the commencement of building. It was constructed of bluestone with a slate roof. The interior had not been plastered, nor ceiling erected, but would be a funds permitted. Cost at opening was L350/13/6; seats and deskL40. A Tea meeting was held to celebrate the opening on the following night. Church closed in 1910. Has been used as a den for the Djerriwarrh Scout Troop.Formerly Melton Wesleyan Church on Palmerston Streetchurches, local architecture -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, West Melton Regional Shopping Centre, 1973
Kilpatrick house which stood on the site until the 1970s on the land now occupied by the Regional Shopping Centre later to be renamed Woodgrove. Opening of the Centre views from the parking areas and paddocksOpening of the West Melton Regional Shopping Centre taken from the carparklocal significant events, local identities -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, West Melton Regional Shopping Centre opening, 1973
Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, West Melton Regional Shopping Centre opening, 1973
Opening of the shopping centre, in front of the butcher shoplocal identities, local significant events, council -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, West Melton Regional Shopping Centre opening, 1973
Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, West Melton Regional Shopping Centre opening, 1973
Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council -
City of Kingston
Book - Minute book, Minute book, Cheltenham Community Hospital, 1938
The Mordialloc-Cheltenham Community Hospital was a hospital in the suburb of Parkdale. Residents of Mordialloc and Chelsea worked towards a community hospital from the late 1930s. Having a community hospital meant residents who required routine surgery did not need to travel into Melbourne to the larger established hospitals. This was important at a time when few people had their own transport. For many years the Mordialloc Carnival Committee contributed to the cost of building the hospital, with one of its contributions to the ‘opening day’ appeal amounting to one thousand pounds, adding to the several thousand already committed. Construction work commenced on the Mordialloc-Cheltenham Community Hospital in 1950. on a site between Booth St and Carrier Ave on the Nepean Highway in Parkdale. The hospital opened in 1953 and serviced the community until 1996. On 1 August 1995, the hospital became a part of the Southern Health Care Network. The former hospital site is now the main location of Central Bayside Community Health Services.Black hard cover book with red spine. cheltenham, mordialloc, hospital, parkdale, health -
City of Kingston
Book - Commemorative book, Municipal Association of Victoria, Addresses to HRH The Duke of Cornwall and York and His Excellency the Governor General, The Earl of Hopetoun, 1901
This book was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York's visit to Melbourne for the opening of Federal Parliament at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901.Red hard cover book with gold gilded text. federation, royalty, municipal -
City of Kingston
Photograph - Black and white, Percy Fairlam, c. 1920
Cheltenham station was built in 1898 and serviced a primarily rural, market gardening community.The late 1870s saw the beginning of a massive program to construct railway lines throughout Victoria. One of these lines was from Caulfield to Frankston. A survey undertaken by J P Madden, an engineer employed by the railways, established the route, although this was later modified. At the time of the official opening of the line to Mordialloc no station buildings had been constructed despite the fact that tenders had been called in the Government Gazette of 26 May 1881 and subsequently in the Argus newspaper on 30 August 1881 for what became stations at Glenhuntly, Ormond, Bentleigh, Moorabbin, Highett, Cheltenham, Mentone and Mordialloc. However platforms and sidings were completed, ready to receive passengers. Cheltenham station opened in 1898.Black and white photograph of Cheltenham Railway Station with the two platforms separated by two sets of tracks. Each platform has a station house on it, and the one on the right hand side also has a garden and park bench.Handwritten in red ink on reverse: A7 / 75%cheltenham, trains, railway, railway station, railway crossing, suburbs -
City of Kingston
Photograph - Black and white, 13 September 1956
The newly opened Coles store in Bentleigh attracted a huge crowd of women on opening day.Black and white photograph depicting a crowd of women, some with prams and children, at the entrance to the newly opened Coles store in Bentleigh.Handwritten in blue ink on a white sticker adhered to the reverse: COLES BENTLEIGH / OPENING DAY 13/9/1956 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 165% Printed black text on a white round sticker adhered to the reverse: 200suburbs, domesticity, shopping, consumerism -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, McCauley, Paul, Kat-Can-Kal-Aug-Ood Gazette, 1917
A souvenir issue of a magazine to commemorate the completion and opening of the East-West (Port Augusta - Kalgoorlie) section of the Commonwealth Railways in 1917.ill, p.29.non-fictionA souvenir issue of a magazine to commemorate the completion and opening of the East-West (Port Augusta - Kalgoorlie) section of the Commonwealth Railways in 1917.transcontinental railway - australia - history, commonwealth railways (australia) -- history. -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, Western Endeavour: A Guide to the Transcontinental Standard Gauge Railway, 1970
A Guide to the Transcontinental Standard Gauge Railway for the special Western Endeavour train from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge all the way through from 22-08 to 12-09-1970. Complete with maps and details of the route from Sydney to Perth.ill, maps, p.90.non-fictionA Guide to the Transcontinental Standard Gauge Railway for the special Western Endeavour train from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge all the way through from 22-08 to 12-09-1970. Complete with maps and details of the route from Sydney to Perth.railroad passenger trains - australia, western endeavour special passenger train - australia -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, West by Steam, 1972
The story of the first steam train to cross Australia with the special Western Endeavour train from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge all the way through from 22-08 to 12-09-1970.ill, maps, p.72.non-fictionThe story of the first steam train to cross Australia with the special Western Endeavour train from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge all the way through from 22-08 to 12-09-1970.railroad passenger trains - australia, western endeavour special passenger train - australia -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Western Australian Government Railways, Operations Section, 1973
A ceremonial brochure produced to commemorate the opening of the new Forestfield marshalling yard in Perth by the Western Australia's as part of the new standard gauge railway from Kwinana and Fremantle to Port Pirie in South Australia.ill, p.10.non-fictionA ceremonial brochure produced to commemorate the opening of the new Forestfield marshalling yard in Perth by the Western Australia's as part of the new standard gauge railway from Kwinana and Fremantle to Port Pirie in South Australia.railroad construction - western australia - history, transcontinental railway - australia - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Commonwealth Railways, Port Augusta - Whyalla official opening 6-10-72, 1972
Booklet to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge railway from Port Augusta to Whyalla on Friday 6th October 1972ill, maps, p.16.non-fictionBooklet to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge railway from Port Augusta to Whyalla on Friday 6th October 1972railroad construction - south australia - history, commonwealth railways (australia) -- history. -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Commonwealth Railways, Stirling North - Marree Railway official opening 27-07-57, 1957
Booklet to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge railway from Stirling North to Marree in South Australia on the 27th July 1957.ill, p.19.non-fictionBooklet to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge railway from Stirling North to Marree in South Australia on the 27th July 1957.railroad construction - south australia - history, commonwealth railways (australia) -- history. -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc, The Opening of the Pichi Richi Railway 20-07-74, 1974
A commemorative booklet for the opening of the preserved 3'6" Pichi Richi Railway out of Quorn South Australia on the old Commonwealth Railways line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs 20th July 1974.ill, p.32.non-fictionA commemorative booklet for the opening of the preserved 3'6" Pichi Richi Railway out of Quorn South Australia on the old Commonwealth Railways line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs 20th July 1974.railroad construction - south australia - history, commonwealth railways (australia) -- history. -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Australian Railway Historical Society - Queensland Division et al, Brisbane Railway Centenary, 1976
A pictorial history of the centenary of the opening of the Queensland Government railways from Brisbane to Ipswich in 1876.ill, maps, p.56.non-fictionA pictorial history of the centenary of the opening of the Queensland Government railways from Brisbane to Ipswich in 1876. queensland railways -- history., railroad construction - queensland - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Queensland Government Railways, Queensland Railways 1971: Commemorating opening of Goonyella line 5th November 1971, 1971
A promotional book from the Queensland Government railways for the freight & passenger services in 1971 to commemorate the opening of the coal railway from Hay Point to Goonyella.ill, maps, p.40.non-fictionA promotional book from the Queensland Government railways for the freight & passenger services in 1971 to commemorate the opening of the coal railway from Hay Point to Goonyella.promotional material - queensland railways, railroad construction - queensland - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Pollard, Neville, The Story of the South Western Line, 1981
A souvenir book to commemorate the centenary of the opening of the railway to Hay in New South Wales.ill, maps, p.48.non-fictionA souvenir book to commemorate the centenary of the opening of the railway to Hay in New South Wales.railroad construction - new south wales - history, railroad operations - new south wales - history -
St Kilda Historical Society
Souvenir - Brochure, Souvenir Brochure to mark the Official Opening of the St. Kilda Public Library, 1973
Souvenir brochure to mark the official opening of St Kilda Public Library on 14 May 1973 by Sir Rohan Delacombe, State Governor. Includes information about the the establishment of the library, its holdings and services; details about the construction and fitout of the building; a floor plan; and members of the Council, Library Sub-Committee and library staff.Eight-page brochure with a white card cover, discoloured with age, printed in blue.st kilda public library -
Bialik College
Film - Bialik College Family dvd
Bialik College Family dvd. Run time is 13 minutes. No date as to creation or deaccession from the school library collection. c1990s. Titled as a video about Bialik made by Bialik Parents Association. Four clear scenes. Contemporary, 1990s, the opening day of school, positioned outside of the Smorgon Family House. Hosted by three people, one male unnamed (joined the school in the 1990s), Genia Janover Principal, and Jeffrey Mahemoff. Themes: history of Bialik from 1940 to 1990, Zionism and unique community. For use and permissions email the archive at [email protected] DVD in a plain white dvd case titled Bialik College Family, with Library stamps and barcodes from the school affixed. judaism, community, bialik college -
University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus Archives
Newspaper - Newspaper Cutting, The Victorian Farmers Journal and Gardeners Chronicle, The New Gardens of the Horticultural Society, 1862
Copy of article in "The Victorian Farmers Journal and Gardeners Chronicle" 21 June, 1862 p 13. Advises lithograph of the new gardens is included. They had hoped to open the gardens on 1st january, 1862 but had insufficient funds to complete the work. Description of grounds.Copy of lithograph see B92.632.the victorian farmers journal and gardeners chronicle, lithograph, gardens, experimental gardens plan, financial difficulties, opening of gardens -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, New South Wales Department of Railways, Souvenir of the official opening of the Sydney-Melbourne standard gauge railway line, 1962
Souvenir booklet on aspects of the opening of the Sydney to Melbourne standard gauge line in 1962Ill, p.58.non-fictionSouvenir booklet on aspects of the opening of the Sydney to Melbourne standard gauge line in 1962railways - australia - history, railway gauge - australia -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, New Zealand Railways Publicity and Advertising Branch, Rimutaka Tunnel - Official Opening Ceremony, 1955
A booklet commemorating the opening ceremony for the Rimutaka Tunnel in the North Island near Wellington 3-11-1955ill, maps, p.18.non-fictionA booklet commemorating the opening ceremony for the Rimutaka Tunnel in the North Island near Wellington 3-11-1955railroads - new zealand - pictorial, railroad construction - new zealand -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Wilkinson, Doug, Wellington's First Railway, 1974
A history of the first railway in Wellington to Lower Hutt, to celebrate the centenary of its opening.ill, p.32.non-fictionA history of the first railway in Wellington to Lower Hutt, to celebrate the centenary of its opening.railroad construction - new zealand, railroads - new zealand - north island - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Booklet, Railways of Australia, Opening of the Sydney-Perth Standard Gauge Passenger Services The Indian-Pacific, 1970
A commemorative booklet for the inauguration of The Indian-Pacific passenger train from Sydney to Perth.ill, p.25.non-fictionA commemorative booklet for the inauguration of The Indian-Pacific passenger train from Sydney to Perth.railroad travel - australia, railroad passenger trains - australia -
Buninyong Visitor Information Centre
Ceremonial object - Plaque, Official Opening of Restored Buninyong Library, April 1991, April 1991
... Official Opening of Restored Buninyong Library, April 1991...Brass plaque commemorating the Official Opening of Restored...Brass plaque commemorating the Official Opening of Restored... commemorating the Official Opening of Restored Buninyong Library, April ...Brass plaque commemorating the Official Opening of Restored Buninyong Library, April 1991 by Cr. Derek Leather, Shire President, and active, hands-on supporter of the project.Brass plaque commemorating the Official Opening of Restored Buninyong Library, April 1991 by Cr. Derek Leather, Shire President, and active, hands-on supporter of the project.buninyong visitor information centre, buninyong library, plaques -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Work on paper - Sepia Wash & Ink, G B Richardson, Creek and Old Watering Stage, on the Yarra, East Collingwood, 1854, 1854
Blind Creek was located between the Abbotsford Convent and what is now the Collins Bridge in Studley Park. In an 1858 map of East Collingwood by Clement Hodgkinson, in the State Library of Victoria, one can see how the creek was originally a significant landmark in Collingwood; remaining vacant land until a barrel drain enclosed it. The area was later filled in, surveyed and developed. The position where Blind Creek entered the Yarra was in the immediate vicinity of Hodgson’s Punt, which had linked Kew to the other side of the Yarra from 1839. The Punt was purchased by the Colonial Government in 1852 and was in use until the opening of the Studley Park Road (Johnston Street) Bridge in 1858 made its continued use redundantThe point of view selected by the artist for the watercolour is from the banks of Blind Creek in East Collingwood, looking across the Yarra to the Kew side of the river.Inscribed verso 'Creek and Old Watering stage, on the Yarra East Collingwood 1854 / Trees, stage, &c have long since disappeared / [Artist Signature] / FT 110 / Creek itself now being filled in 1903.gb richardson, blind creek - abbotsford, yarra river - abbotsford (vic) - kew (vic), colonial artists, australian art - 19th century, george bouchier richardson -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Reference Book, The Birds of Australia Vol 1-2, 1890-1891
The Work “The Birds of Australia; containing over 300 full-page illustrations, with a descriptive account of the life and characteristic habits of over 700 species” by Gracius J. [Joseph] Broinowski – Australian author, artist and ornithologist - was created in 40 parts for subscribers and sold for 10s [shillings]., These parts were later published in six volumes, which were later published and bound in pairs to make three volumes, each of which contain two of the six original volumes, numbered volumes, “I”, “III” and “V” on their fly page, but numbered “Vols. I-II”, “Vols. III-IV” and “Vols. V-VI” on their respective spines. The volumes were all published by Charles Stuart & Co. (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, New Zealand, and Tasmania). All of the beautifully drawn and coloured illustrations in The Birds of Australia were illustrated by Broinowski. They were printed using a new 19th century method called chromolithography. This is the art of making multi-coloured prints. The skilled lithographer would work from an original coloured painting and create a copy for every one of the many layers of colour used to build the painting. These layers were then printed carefully over each other to re-build the picture. Gracius J. Broinowski’s Work “The Birds of Australia” was described by Jean.Anker as “a semi-popular but comprehensive treatment of the subject” in the book “Bird Books and Bird Art: an outline of the Literary History and Iconology of Descriptive Ornithology” 1979. It may be that these books were donated to, or ordered specifically for, the Warrnambool Public Museum, due to the embossing on the spine “WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY”. The acquisition of these books would most likely to have made 1891-1910, between the date the books were published and the date that the Museum amalgamated with the Mechanics Institute, which then became part of The Museum and Art Gallery. These three books were part of the collection of books belonging to the Warrnambool Public Museum, established 1873 by Joseph Archibald. The Museum moved into the back of the Mechanics’ Institute in 1885, along with the Art Gallery and School of Dancing. In 1886 it was officially opened as The Warrnambool Museum and Art Gallery, with Joseph Archibald as its curator. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former court house in Timor Street, with Joseph Archibald as Curator until 1897. In 1910 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian. He developed his own sorting and cataloguing system and organised the collection of books accordingly. In the 1960’s the Warrnambool City Council closed down the Museum and Art Gallery and the books and artefacts were redistributed to other organisations in Warrnambool. Each spine of this book set, The Birds of Australia by Gracius Broinowski, shows a space on which a previous cataloguing label may have been affixed. The volumes are amongst the many books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village that display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. Some other Australian Libraries also include these books in their collections; Australian National University, University of NSW, University of Western Australia, State Library of Western Australia, Deakin University, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, University of Tasmania. The Library of Congress and the University of British Columbia also have sets of these volumes. These books are considered as Rare Book; a set of Broinowski’s 3 volumes was advertised in Melbourne’s Rare Book Fair 2012, “for ornithological collectors”. (See the more detailed information below in “Warrnambool Public Museum and Mechanics Institute” and the “Pattison Collection”.) GRACIUS JOSEP BROINOWSKI Gracius Joseph Broinowski (7/3/1837 – 11/4/1913), artist and ornithologist, was born in Walichnowy, Poland, son of a landowner and military officer of the same name. He was educated privately then later, at the Munich University, he was a student of languages, classics and art. To avoid conscription into the Russian army, he migrated to Germany. At the age of about 20 years he migrated to Portland (Victoria, Australia), working his passage as part of the crew of a windjammer. Broinowski worked in the country for a few years then found employment working for a Melbourne publisher and later sold his own paintings. In about 1863, while on one of his many travels in eastern Australia painting landscapes and scenes, he married Jane Smith in Richmond, Victoria (her father was captain of a whaler). In 1880 he settled in Sydney where his work involved teaching painting, lecturing on art and exhibiting his own work at showings of the Royal Art Society. Also in the 1880s he began to publish illustrated works on Australian natural history, including; - illustrations of the birds and mammals of Australia, commissioned by the Department of Public Instruction, New South Wales, and mounted, varnished and hung on walls in many classrooms - "The Birds and Mammals of Australia"; a bound collection of illustrations with appropriated text - 1888 "The Cockatoos and Nestors of Australia and New Zealand" - 1890-1891, "The Birds of Australia" Broinowski died in 1913 at Mosman, Sydney, survived by his wife, six sons and a daughter. His son, Leopold, became a significant political journalist in Tasmania. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC MUSEUM & 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 December 1854 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, 1873, Joseph Archibald established the Warrnambool Public Museum [Warrnambool 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 he served as Curator 1882-1897. In 1885 a new building was added to the back of the Mechanics’ Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. It was officially opened as the Warrnambool Museum and Art Gallery on 26th July 1886 with Mr Joseph Archibald as Curator. 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 1910 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 1963 when the Museum and Art Gallery was closed and the contents removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. The Museum has never been re-opened. 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 (which included books from the Warrnambool Public Museum), ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed art works and some photographs. THE PATTISON COLLECTION These books “The Birds of Australia” by Broinowsky, are also listed as part of the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was then called. When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. References: Archibald Street, Discover the History of Warrnambool Streets, https://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/sites/warrnambool.vic.gov.au/files/images/Property/roads/The%20story%20of%20Warrnambool's%20streets.pdf Broinowski, Bird Books and Bird Art etc, Jean Anker 1979, https://books.google.com.au/books?id=B5TpCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=the+birds+of+australia,+broinowski,+bird+books+and+bird+art&source=bl&ots=nQroxqePdY&sig=a3lnn-_FqB-ZcFAwqRYVK6Y7ZeM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5sL7-2JTSAhWIyLwKHaCHAJcQ6AEIUTAN#v=onepage&q=the%20birds%20of%20australia%2C%20broinowski%2C%20bird%20books%20and%20bird%20art&f=false Broinowski, Gracius Joseph, by A.H. Chisholm, Australian Dictionary of Biography http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/broinowski-gracius-joseph-3061 Chromolithography, Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromolithography Document, Flagstaff Hill, ‘Mechanics’ Institute Collection’: Books on Dean, Melbourne Rare Book Fare 2015, BookFare Newsletter #5, www.anzaab.com/newsletters/BookFare_1207.pdf Flagstaff Hill archives; document “Re: Ralph Eric Pattison”] Gracius Broinowski, Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracius_Broinowski Gracius Joseph Broinowski, Design & Art Australia online, https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gracius-joseph-broinowski/biography/ Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Pg ix, 283; Significance Assessment, Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Books, FHMV, 2010 The Birds of Australia by Gracius J. Broinowski, Libraries of Australia, Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12425131?q&sort=holdings+desc&_=1487246530281&versionId=210683608 The Birds of Australia, Broinowski; www.Librarything.com The History of Warrnambool, R. Osburne, 1887, p.72, p. 283 The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute – FHMV datasheet Warrnambool Art Gallery History, Warrnambool Art Gallery Foundation Information Booklet, http://www.wagf.com.au/cms/downloads/WAGF-Information-Booklet.pdf Warrnambool Museum and Art Gallery, The Argus, 29th July 1886 Web; The Birds of Australia (Broinowski), Wikipedia The Birds of Australia by Gracius J. Broinowski is a respected source of scientific information. It is also significant for its rarity and as an early Australian Work. The book is significant for its association with the Warrnambool Public Museum, which played an important educational and social role in the early settlement of Warrnambool and District. The book is also significant for its association with the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection, which 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. 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 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 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 book is also significant for its inclusion in the Pattison Collection, a collection that as a whole shows a snapshot of the types of reading material offered to the local public at that point in time The Birds of Australia Vol 1-2 Author and Illustrator: Gracius J Broinowski Publisher: Charles Stuart & Co Date: 1890 - 1891Label on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2 BRO Embossing added to spine “WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC MUSEUM" Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Librarythe birds of australia vol 1-2, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gracius joseph broinowski, charles stuart & co, joseph archibald, warrnambool public museum, warrnambool museum, warrnambool library, warrnambool art gallery, warrnambool city librarian, pattison collection, ralph eric pattison, samuel hannaford, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, rare books, australian bird illustrations, australian bird text, australian natural history