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Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Journal (item) - Periodicals-Annual, Shiplovers' Society of Victoria, The Annual Dog Watch
This journal provides the reader with glimpses of the adventures and hardships of a seaman's life. Many of the stories are of sailing ships.Contributes to our knowledge of the importance of shipping and places on record those stories of the sea which would otherwise be lost.Contents Foreword - Commander R. S. .Veale, C.M.G. V.R.D. - 5 Editorial - - 7 Light Houses - N. S. Smith - 11 On Passing for Second Mate - R. Thiele - 18 Passenger Steamers on the Tasman Sea - I. Mackay - 22 Dune Ship - Dr. Philip Martin - 37 The Rum Runners - S. A. E. Strom - 38 To Australia Amongst Emigrants - S. Duncan - 43 The Persian Gulf or "Hells Kitchen" - K. Bull - 49 Monkey Business - Captn. James Gaby - 51 Anchor Hardy - Capt. R. G. Edwards - 52 Light Houses - C. E. Bonwick - 58 The Forlorn Hope - N. S. Smith - 59 Robert Louis Stevenson in The South Seas - Captn. Fred Klebingat - 68 Eastward-Ho! - Charles E. Howlett, B.A, LL.B. - 73 Commonwealth Government Rewards for School Boys - I. Wilson, M.P., Minister for Home Affairs - 78 Protection of Historic Wrecks off Queensland Coast - I. Wilson, M.P. - 79 The s.s. New Texas --Elder Dempster Line - Captn. L. Gibson - 83 Carmichael's Golden Fleece Line - L. Holmes - 89 Passing the Buck - - 95 Ice Barrier - D. M. Fyfe - 96 A Dream Come True - W. P. Shemmeld - 97 Homeward Bound - R. W. Rudd - 105 More of the Wreck of The City of York - A. T. Wreford and E. M. Christie - 110 A Fortunate Rescue - Captn. J. Gaby - 112 More About Sail - Capt. W. J. Cowling - 113 Book Reviews - 120sailing ships, steamships, shipping, seafaring life, shiplovers' society of victoria, dog watch -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Book, Arthur E. Woodley et al, Duke’s & Orr’s Dry Dock, Polly Woodside’s Historic Home, 1985
... Duke’s & Orr’s Dry Dock, Polly Woodside’s Historic Home... Dry Dock, Polly Woodside’s Historic Home Book Arthur E ...70 pages : illustrations, facsimiles, mapsnon-fictionduke and orr dry dock, polly woodside, national trust, yarra river, south wharf, interest group -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1960's
Donated by N. M. & J. D. Archibald, April 1973.Colour Photograph. Ventnor. Hurricane Hill (Richardson's Hill). Built about 1883. 18' x 18'. Brick double one story. Originally built for Mr. T. Richardson. Now being used as a holiday house (1973). Chicory Kiln Album.local history, photography, photographs, agriculture buildings, historic, chicory kiln, hurrican hill, home, richardson, ventnor, n & j archibald, richardson's hill ventnor phillip island -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph
Part of collection of Photographs donated to the Museum by the family of the late Mr. Jack Jenner (1977)Black & White Photograph - Rhyll Post Office as the home of William Thomas and Annie McFee - Rhylllocal history, photography, photographs, slides, film buildings, historic, early post office - rhyll, black & white photograph, jack jenner, rhyll post office, phillip island -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
Photograph of two chimneys of George Dorward's home on the hill of Newhaven-Rhyll Road. A very tall standing Palm tree, two bushes part of a fence and in background glimpse of Westernport Bay.Remains of the home of George Dorward on the hill on Newhaven-Rhyll Road.local history, photographs, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, george dorward -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
"Tallawalla" once named "Everton". Built by Joseph Richardson about 1870 and lived in by several generations of the Richardsons for many years. Bought by Mr & Mrs Ed Rayner. Ranch style white painted home with blue roof. Set to back of property - garden - drive and two tall trees in the foreground. A large tree on left side of home."Talawalla" once named "Everton". Built by Joseph Richardson - 1870.local history, photographs, buildings, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, talawalla homestead -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
Findlay Art Gallery. The house was brought from French Island where it was the home of the De La Haye family.White timber house single storey. Findlay Art Gallery.local history, photographs, buildings, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, findlay art gallery -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
Rhylstone Park in Thompson Avenue, Cowes, was the home of Mr Vaughan. Later run as a clock museum then a B & B until approx 2007.A brick house built by Mr Joseph Vaughan about 1890. It was named Rhylstone Park. single storey - bull nose verandah.local history, photographs, buildings, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
The home of the Figuerola sisters. They were three artistic single ladies. In 1955 Carmen Figuerola published the little book "Family on Phillip Island" - a lovely story of the bland family. Today the house does not exist.Single storey old weatherboard house in Steele Street, Cowes. A lot of green shrubbery and trees.local history, photographs, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978/79
Built as a home for Mrs Jessie Smith - it was later used as a billiard room and finally as the Penguin Cafe. Mrs Smith was a member of the 'Small' Family of San Remo. She was the only Estate Agent in Cowes until 1954. Mrs Smith was in her late nineties when she died in 1977.The Penguin Cafe was built as a home for Mrs Jessie Smith. It was situated in Thompson Avenue on the east side near Chapel Street and the Phillip Island Bakery.local history, photographs, buildings, historic, buildings - historical, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, penguin cafe, cowes -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978 - 79
Built by J D McHaffie as a Shepherd's Hut in the 1850 - 60s. At one stage called Julyan's Cottage. Finlay Julyan born there, owned by various families. At one time by H Grayden and R McKinley. Privately owned now. (Noted on the caption that it was built by John Evans about 1870??)Small wooden building on corner of Lyall Street and Ventnor Beach Road. Brick chimney still in situ.local history, photographs, buildings - historic, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, settlers home -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, 1978 - 79
One of a pair of settlers homes on the property of the Cameron Family, Watts Road, Ventnor. built about 1880.Photograph of two houses at Cameron property, Ventnor. One intact - the other in ruins. Built of corrugated iron.local history, photographs, buildings - historic, coloured photograph, john cook, phillip island, cameron's settlers homes -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Anderson Family & Homestead, 1887
Two early Photographs of Glen Isla Home in garden setting. No specific date. Taken from 2 different angles.Two-story Weatherboard Gabled House - Glen Isla - in early years.local history, photography, photographs, slides, film, buildings, historic, the house - glen isla - in early years, phillip island, sepia photograph, mrs emma anderson jacobs -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Anderson Family Homestead, 1960
Glen Isla Homestead. Home of Robert Anderson.Close up of back entrance to Glen Isla Homestead. Figure of unidentified woman at back door. bush on right. Out-building semi attached to house, shed door open. Dog-leg path.local history, photography, photographs, slides, film, buildings, historic, glen isla homestead, phillip island, coloured photograph, mrs emma anderson jacobs -
Greensborough Historical Society
Document, Miles Lewis, Happy Hollow farm: File note, by Miles Lewis, 1994_
This is a File note written by Professor Miles Lewis, of Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne on Happy Hollow Farm, reputed to be the home of Emmett Whatmough and his family and subsequently by Charles Partington and his family and at time of compilation (1994) home of Dr. Christopher Bell. His examination was intended to assist in determining the age of the building, with a view to seeing whether it be nominated for inclusion on the Historic Buildings Register5 page photocopy of typescript, with house plan.happy hollow farm, christopher bell, whatmough, partington, betty bell -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Postcard - Postcard - Burswood House, Portland, n.d
Black and white photo postcard, 'Burswood'. View shows front and left-hand side of building, plus driveway and circular lawnFront: 'BIRSWOOD' THE OLD HENTY HOME, PORTLAND' -black italic print, bottom left corner of photo Back: 'No. 27' - black italic print, bottom right corner of photopostcard, historic house, portland, burswood -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photographs - Various Portland Landmarks Victoria, c. 1940
Identification numbers 9202 and 9203 a - h Valentine's snapshots - eight real photographs, Portland No. 1 a0 Julia St. b) Historic Lifeboat of 1854 c) Henty beach d) Bentinck St e) Dutton Beach f) Botanic gardens g) The Harbour h) 'Burswood' the old Henty Home -
Connecting Home
book, Deadly Design, Bewteen Two Worlds, 2008
As a result of the recommendations arising from the Stolen Generations Taskforce Report 2003. The taskforce identified the need for an independant, community controlled organisation in Victoria to be established to meet the needs of the stolen generation in this state. Connecting Home seeks to undertalke activities that will assist members of the stolen generation and engage in publc awareness and education. Historic Significance, this is one of Victoria's first books published that helps to explain the thought & feelings of Stolen Generation people, that has been developed to address recommendations from the Bringing Them Home Report. Social Significance, The information recorded from stolen generation participants explains to non-aboriginal health & human service professionals about the social impact of the politically incorrect times that state & national laws and policies had been introduced to forcibly remove aboriginal & toerres strait islander children form family, land and culture. Research Significance, Soft cover book, with 43 pages. Picture of aboriginal girl, crying, holding teddy bear on front cover. Content is a guide aimed at understanding the Stolen Generations for Health & Human Service Professionals. book, stolen, generations, victoria, victorian, human, resources, syd, jackson, roseann, hepbruns haines, aiatsis, missions, rererves, aboriginal, legal, service, child, care, agency, health, education, consultative, group, housing, cooperative, bringing, them, home, counsellor, program, link, up, koori, heritage, trust -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - 'Burswood', The Old Henty Home, Portland, n.d
... House Henty historic homestead Burswood Portland home Front ...Displayed at History HouseBlack and white photograph of Burswood Homestead - front view.Front: 'Burswood', The Old Henty Home, Portland. No. 27 Back: Donated to History House by Mrs. B. Mackie, 1984.henty, historic homestead, burswood, portland home -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Pianola Rolls
Pianola roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. The roll moves over a reading system known as a tracker bar; the playing cycle for each musical note is triggered when a perforation crosses the bar. They have been in continuous production since at least 1896. These rolls are c1920s.Used and owned by a resident of the Kiewa Valley. An alternative form of musical entertainment in the home. The music itself is historic and an example of what songs were popular in the 1920s.Stored in 2 boxes. Box 1. Mastertouch Rolls = 21; Universal Song Roll = 1; Vocalsty Song Roll = 3; Gulbransen Roll = 3 Box 2. Mastertouch = 2; Unidentified = 18 Most rolls are in original cardboard boxes with labels on the end. Rolls in various condition. Most rolls intact. Rolls of paper end are metal or Bakorlite, paper rolled onto a cardboard core. Boxes are dark colours. They ore continuous rolls of paper with holes punched into them. These perforations represent note control data.pianola rolls, music, entertainment -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
German Army Trousers, 1914 (estimated); Early 20th Century
These trousers are from the Light brigade, and therefore would have an interesting history and research value. If this item was attached to other items connected to the wars,WW1, WW2, it could good interpretive history. Unfortunately we do not know who they belonged to, but since they were donated to the UC op shop it may be a local person in the Kiewa Valley. Jan 2013 - We have just found out these trousers are infact from the German Army from WW1 and would have been brought back home by one of local soldiers who were in the light horse, which a few men from Tawonga served in.If this item was donated by a local person, this would make it very signfigant due to attached social history about that person. Therefore significance would be, historic, re light brigade history, and the German Army, since we now know these are German Army pants. Research value as above. The period of this item, WW1 would make it rare, and since the item is in good condition, gives it good interpretive capacity.Grey wool riding breeches army issue KMV - 1 Private, Ex (in red) 72 in purpletrousers, pants, light- horse-brigade, germ.an army. ww1 -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Dress, Hand made, c.1900
This dress is hand made possibly by a mother for her daughters. It is hand and machine stitched. This style of dress would have been worn for special occasions, eg going to church or special outings.This item is very significant for the following reasons. Historic and social - it shows what little girls wore during the early 1900's of the Kiewa Valley. It also shows fashion of the times and how these styles of dresses were made. All of which is valuable for research on these topics. There are only two of these dresses in the collection of the KVSH, and therefore would be very rare. The condition is good enough to display, therefore it has good interpretive capacity.Brown Cotton Dress. Top and sleeves are lined in calico. Home made, with manual machine stitches and some hand sewing. The dress has a high round neck and long sleeves. There is a band around the waist to which a gathered skirt it attached with hand stitching. Two different shades of brown are used on this dress. Back opens with 8 hooks. Water stains on dresschild, homemade, dress, girl, kiewa-valley -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Diamond Valley sketchbook / text by Brian McKinlay ; drawings by Graham Hawley, 1973
Contents include short articles and illustrations of historic properties within the municipalities of Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea. Including The Griffin House, Rosehill, Lower Plenty, The Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, St John's Church, Heidelberg, Banyule, Heidelberg, Trestle Bridge, Eltham, Diamond Valley railway, The Shillinglaw Cottage, Eltham, Montsalvat, Old England Hotel, Heidelberg, Eltham Primary School, Mud brick homes, Eltham, Sweeney's Cottage, Eltham, Pound Pend Tunnel, The Gold Memorial, Potter's Cottage, Memorial Tower, Charterisville, Weller's Pub, The Barrel, Eltham, Hassall's Gallery, The Old Bridge, Greensborough, Diamond Valley Shire Offices, Greensborough, St Katherine's Chapel, Yan Yean Reservoir, Mernda Hotel, Mernda Mechanics Institute, Old Barn, Mernda, Parade College, La Trobe University.Hardback with jacket ; 63 p. : ill., maps ; 22cm. diamond valley shire, shire of nillumbik, city of whittlesea, city of banyule, shillinglaw cottage, weller's hotel -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Robert Wuchatsch 1950- et al, Historic buildings of the Whittlesea Shire / Robert Wuchatsch and John Waghorn, 1985
Historical accounts of 55 buildings which portray the Shire of Whittlesea's diverse history. Contains 70 photographs, all full page, 12 in colour. Each is accompanied by a comprehensive account of the homes' origins and changing ownerships through the generations. There are also drawings and a map of the Shire of Whittlesea. Reference to the Peter Lalor Home Building Co-Operative Society Ltd., a project devised to overcome the critical shortage after World War 2. Produced as part of the celebrations for Victoria's 150th anniversary by the Whittlesea Historical Society. A photograph of Bear's Castle at Yan Yean Reservoir is on the cover.Paperback; [114] p. : ill. (some col.), 1 map ; 19 x 25 cm.ISBN 0958866309buildings, shire of whittlesesa, bear's castle -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Buda, Castlemaine, Spring Gardens Excursion, 30 October 1988, 30 Oct 1988
Pam and Marion EDHS Newsletter No. 62, September, 1988 SPRING GARDENS TRIP 30 Oct 1988 On this trip we will be visiting gardens which are of historic interest or of old world character. The date has been selected to coincide with the time when the gardens are likely to be at their best. The Central Victorian Goldfields area has been selected because it offers a wide range of gardens open to the public. From this range we have chosen three gardens which we think will be of great interest to members and their families and friends. These are the gardens: • "Buda", Castlemaine One of Victoria's most famous historic gardens. The mansion which was the home of the Leviny family for 118~ years is also open for inspection. • "Badger's Keep", Chewton This is a cottage garden (complete with 100 year old cottage) with a great diversity of plants. • "The Springs", Sedgwick A country garden also with a great array of plants The cost of the bus is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. There is an additional charge for entry to the gardens, $2.00 each for "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs": for "Buda" it is $3.00, $1.50 for pensioners and $1.00 for children Each of the gardens has plants for sale. Bring your own picnic lunch. Please be at the Eltham Shire Offices by 8.15 a.m. so we can leave promptly at 8.30. To book for this trip complete the attached form and return the appropriate fare. EDHS Newsletter No. 63, November, 1988 RECENT ACTIVITIES More recently the Spring Gardens trip attracted a full bus load and a waiting list. Those who went thoroughly enjoyed the historic garden and mansion at "Buda" and two other excellent gardens at "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs". The popularity of this trip warrants a repeat performance. There are a number of other gardens of historic and general interest which are worth a visit in the future.Two colour photographic printsactivities, eltham district historical society, buda, castlemaine -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Buda, Castlemaine, Spring Gardens Excursion, 30 October 1988, 30 Oct 1988
Pam and Marion EDHS Newsletter No. 62, September, 1988 SPRING GARDENS TRIP 30 Oct 1988 On this trip we will be visiting gardens which are of historic interest or of old world character. The date has been selected to coincide with the time when the gardens are likely to be at their best. The Central Victorian Goldfields area has been selected because it offers a wide range of gardens open to the public. From this range we have chosen three gardens which we think will be of great interest to members and their families and friends. These are the gardens: • "Buda", Castlemaine One of Victoria's most famous historic gardens. The mansion which was the home of the Leviny family for 118~ years is also open for inspection. • "Badger's Keep", Chewton This is a cottage garden (complete with 100 year old cottage) with a great diversity of plants. • "The Springs", Sedgwick A country garden also with a great array of plants The cost of the bus is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. There is an additional charge for entry to the gardens, $2.00 each for "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs": for "Buda" it is $3.00, $1.50 for pensioners and $1.00 for children Each of the gardens has plants for sale. Bring your own picnic lunch. Please be at the Eltham Shire Offices by 8.15 a.m. so we can leave promptly at 8.30. To book for this trip complete the attached form and return the appropriate fare. EDHS Newsletter No. 63, November, 1988 RECENT ACTIVITIES More recently the Spring Gardens trip attracted a full bus load and a waiting list. Those who went thoroughly enjoyed the historic garden and mansion at "Buda" and two other excellent gardens at "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs". The popularity of this trip warrants a repeat performance. There are a number of other gardens of historic and general interest which are worth a visit in the future.Seven colour photographic printsactivities, eltham district historical society, buda, castlemaine -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Buda, Castlemaine, Spring Gardens Excursion, 30 October 1988, 30/10/1988
[from EDHS Newsletter No. 62, September 1988:] SPRING GARDENS TRIP 30 Oct 1988 On this trip we will be visiting gardens which are of historic interest or of old world character. The date has been selected to coincide with the time when the gardens are likely to be at their best. The Central Victorian Goldfields area has been selected because it offers a wide range of gardens open to the public. From this range we have chosen three gardens which we think will be of great interest to members and their families and friends. These are the gardens: • "Buda", Castlemaine: One of Victoria's most famous historic gardens. The mansion, which was the home of the Leviny family for 118~ years, is also open for inspection. • "Badger's Keep", Chewton: This is a cottage garden (complete with 100 year old cottage) with a great diversity of plants. • "The Springs", Sedgwick: A country garden also with a great array of plants. The cost of the bus is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. There is an additional charge for entry to the gardens, $2.00 each for "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs"; for "Buda" it is $3.00, $1.50 for pensioners and $1.00 for children. Each of the gardens has plants for sale. Bring your own picnic lunch. Please be at the Eltham Shire Offices by 8.15 a.m. so we can leave promptly at 8.30. To book for this trip complete the attached form and return the appropriate fare. [from EDHS Newsletter No. 63, November 1988:] RECENT ACTIVITIES More recently the Spring Gardens trip attracted a full bus load and a waiting list. Those who went thoroughly enjoyed the historic garden and mansion at "Buda" and two other excellent gardens at "Badger's Keep" and "The Springs". The popularity of this trip warrants a repeat performance. There are a number of other gardens of historic and general interest which are worth a visit in the future.Two colour photographsactivities, buda, castlemaine -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Thermometer, Early 20th Century
A Storm Glass and Thermometer such as this one would be used in predicting or forecasting the weather. Farmers used predictions they read from their Storm Glass to prepare for stormy weather or for choosing a good time for planting or harvesting their crops. This could mean to them the difference between a good year and a year without income. This design has been in use since the early 1800’s. According to Admiral Fitzroy (who studied the storm glass and wrote instructions on its use) the liquid in the glass changes composition and appearance according to the direction of the air moving around it. He advised the user to disturb the contents once or twice a year by tipping it upside down and shaking it gently. Item is a good example of a barometer/thermometer that would have been in most homes and farms from the late 19th century and early 20th century. This item would have been massed produced at the time therefore easily available and quite cheap to purchase making this particular item not very significant as not associated with a historic person or property or with a known manufacturer or date.Storm Glass and Thermometer, commonly called a 'Cottage Barometer', mounted on a rectangular dark rectangle of wood, top corners rounded. The Storm Glass (or weather glass, or chemical weather glass) is suspended in a long oval shaped hole in the wood on left side, held in place at top and at bottom with 2 metal bands secured by nails. The glass of this gauge is hand blown, sealed at the top with another layer of glass. The watery fluid in the storm glass is opaque brownish colour with dark particles floating in it. (Storm glasses were usually filled with a variation of a mix of camphor, distilled water, ethyl alcohol and silver nitrate.) The alcohol thermometer is mounted on the right side of the wood, bulb resting in a hollow, attached at top and near base by 2 thin metal strips, with clover-leaf shaped ends, nailed into place. Over the bulb is nailed a metal guard with 3 ventilation slits cut into it. On left of thermometer is a scale, stamped into wood, 30 below zero to 130 above zero, in 2 degree intervals. A border of 2 thin parallel lines, with remnants of light coloured paint, is around the block of wood. On the reverse side, a metal plate is nailed to the top with a mounting hole in it. Impressed sideways along edge of barometer is "STORMY" "CHANGE" "FAIR". Across the top of the thermometer is a fleur de leis in the wood, and above this it is stamped "FAHRENHEIT". On right of the thermometer, stamped into the wood, is "BLOOD/HEAT", "SUMR/HEAT", "TEMPE/RATE", "FREEZ/ING". On the back of the wood, at the base, are remnants of a white sticker with "...111.73". Carved into the wood is "HOLLAND / AV". flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, barometer, cottage barometer, storm glass, thermometer, chemical weather glass -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Picture
Handmade decorative wall hanging, possibly made in the late 19th or early 20th century.Pictures like this handmade example of 9th or 200th century craftwork were often used as decorative wall hangings in the home. Currently there is no connection of this work with people, places or historic events.A picture with a small black and white print of a country landscape and house mounted on embroidered and beaded yellow fabric.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, picture, embroidery, landscape scene, beading -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, Cyclopædia of English Literature Vol 2
This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities, are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 from 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. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY When the WMI 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 WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Pattison. Eventually, the components of the WMI 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. 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. Cyclopædia of English Literature Vol 2 Edited by R Chambers Publisher: William and Robert Chambers Further Information: A history, critical and biographical, of British authors from the earliest to the present timesThe label on the spine cover with typed text H 820 CHA Front loose end paper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service. 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, cyclopædia of english literature vol 2