Tait collection: item 33 of 62 This probate document gives details of the will of Thomas Smith, a farmer in the Wangoom district who was a pioneer settler, having arrived in the area about 1848. He erected the Shamrock Hotel in Dennington in 1868 and it was opened for business in 1869 with David Duffy as the first licensee. Thomas Smith was the licensee in 1870 and members of his family (Cornelius, Robert and Mary Smith) held the licence of the hotel until 1880. A codicil to the will gave Mary Smith, Thomas’ daughter, the hotel land and building. This hotel closed in 2011. Thomas Smith signed the original will with a cross (his mark). Other names mentioned in the probate document are Frederick Wilkinson, Master-in-Equity, Ernest Chambers, Solicitor, John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers, William Ardlie, Senior, Solicitor, Thomas Goodall, Clerk to William Ardlie, Richard Sheldrick, Clerk to William Ardlie, Walter Davies, Stationer.This is a significant document as Thomas Smith was a prominent owner of land, especially in the Dennington area. The Shamrock Hotel in Dennington was built by Smith and still owned by him when he died in 1880. The will gives important details of the estate of Thomas Smith and adds to our knowledge of his life and work. Document – Probate, 1880/1907 - the Will and Codicil of Thomas Smith, Farmer of Dennington The will has six ruled paper pages of typewritten material. Each page has printed ruled red lines top, bottom and sides and all are tied with green corded string. There are handwritten corrections and signatures, including those of Ernest Chambers, Solicitor of Warrnambool and John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers.Thomas Smith Shamrock Hotel, Dennington Ernest Chambers, Solicitor thomas smith wangoom 1848, shamrock hotel dennington, warrnambool history, thomas smith 1880

Tait collection: item 35 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander Gibson McPherson, a farmer of Rochester, Victoria, in December 1883. He died intestate and left an estate worth £215. The beneficiary was his sister, Mary Wright of Somerton. No other details are available on Alexander McPherson. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession at his Warrnambool office and passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street. The document was found in the same building, the former premises of the legal firm, Mackay Taylor, where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is only of interest as being originally in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a lawyer who was in Warrnambool for several years at the end of the 19th century. No connection between Warrnambool and Alexander McPherson has been found. This is a cream-coloured sheet of parchment paper, folded twice. It contains hand written material in brown ink giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander McPherson of Rochester in 1883. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and it has ,a black stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court of Victoria. One page has been ruled at the edges with brown lines. The writing is somewhat faded but the document is legible. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction in the Estate of Alexander Gibson McPherson late of Rochester in the Colony of Victoria Farmer a bachelor deceasedalexander mcpherson, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 36 of 62 This document contains the details of the Will and Probate of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He was born in 1804 and died in 1889. He was a pioneer settler in the Woodford area, arriving, according to the Pioneer Honour Board, in 1842. His son, Ivor, was Secretary of the Grasmere Cheese and Butter Factory for some time and Secretary of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory in 1888. David Williams left real estate to the value of £1540 and personal estate to the value of £1075. The chief beneficiary was his eldest son, David but other sons and grandsons also benefited. His wife, Mary, was left £300, a house to live in rent free during her lifetime, two cows and the right to graze them on the farm, six silver spoons, her bed and bedding, washstand and ware, a dressing table, a table in the dairy and ‘all the crockery and cooking utensils she may require’. The lawyer drawing up this document was James Fletcher who had an office in Port Fairy in the 1870s and an office in Koroit Street, Warrnambool, in the 1880s. In the 1890s and early 1900s he was in partnership with George Mackay. This document was in the possession of the lawyer Ernest Chambers who had drawn up the Williams will. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street until it was located in 2014 in the Kepler Street building last used as legal premises by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable interest as it contains the will and probate details of a prominent 19th century farmer in the Woodford district. It will be useful for researchers.This is a white piece of parchment paper folded in two with typed material on two pages and handwritten material on one page. The pages are ruled with red ink. The pages include the Will and Probate details of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He died in 1889.In the Supreme Court in the Colony of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of David Williams Morgrugyn farm near Woodford in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceasedjames fletcher, david williams, ernest chambers, warrnambool, woodford, morgrugyn farm

Tait collection: item 39 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley who died in Warrnambool at the age of 75 in 1893. He had come with his first wife to Australia in 1852 and was a Customs Officer in Warrnambool, in charge of the signals and premises, living in Merri Street. Later after the death of his wife (they had ten children) he married Eliza McKeeman in 1870 and they lived at ‘Oakbank’ near the Warrnambool Cemetery where Oakley pursued farming interests. They had a further eight children, many of them making their mark in the business and community life of Warrnambool and further afield. Thomas Oakley left real estate to the value of £900 and personal estate to the value of £1251, with the beneficiaries being his wife, his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Anne from his first marriage and the eight children of his second marriage. The lawyers concerned with this document, O’Mahony and Murray, had offices in Warrnambool in Kepler Street at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a Warrnambool lawyer during the same period. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises and located there in 2014.This document is of considerable importance as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley, a prominent and successful landowner in Warrnambool in the 19th century. It will be of great use to researchers. This is a white piece of thick paper folded in two with handwritten material on four sides of the paper. The pages have printed red lines at the edges of three pages. The document contains details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley who died in 1893 in Warrnambool. The pages are clean and readable.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Thomas Oakley late of Warrnambool in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria Landowner deceased.o’mahony & murray,, warrnambool lawyers, ernest chambers, warrnambool lawyer, thomas oakley, tait collection

Tait collection: item 40 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones, an engine driver who died in Warrnambool in January 1895 at the age of 69. He had previously been a resident of Port Fairy. He left real estate to the value of £640 and personal estate to the value of £187. The beneficiaries of the will were his daughters, Margaret and Mary Jones. The lawyers connected with this document were Ernest Chambers and the legal firm of Fletcher and Mackay. Ernest Chambers had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and the signatures of two of his law clerks, Thomas Goodall and John White are included in this document. James Fletcher had a legal office in Port Fairy and in Warrnambool in the 1870s and in Warrnambool in the 1880s (Koroit Street). In the late 1890s he commenced a partnership with George Mackay who had previously had his own practice in Warrnambool. In the 1920s the firm became known as Mackay and Taylor and later Mackay Taylor (Kepler Street). This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers and was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises. It was located in 2014 with other documents in these premises last occupied by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones who had been a resident of Warrnambool in the late 19th century. It will be useful for researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten material on three sides of the paper. It gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones of Warrnambool who died in 1895. The pages have printed red lines on the edges of three pages. The written material is clean and readable.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Edward Jones late of Warrnambool and formerly of Belfast in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria Engine driver deceasedfletcher and mackay, lawyers,, warrnambool, ernest chambers,, edward jones, tait collection

Tait collection: item 43 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a farmer from Bushfield, who died in July 1897. He died intestate but had real estate to the value of £510 and personal estate to the value of £142. The beneficiary was his wife, Mary Ann Moloney. The lawyer involved in drawing up this document was William Ardlie, one of the best-known lawyers in Warrnambool in the 19th and 20th centuries. He commenced his business in the 1860s and continued on until the 1930s when he was well in his eighties, making him at the time the oldest practising lawyer in Australasia. The document seemed to have been passed down by successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street legal premises and located there in 2014.This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a 19th century farmer from Bushfield and it also concerns the lawyer, William Ardlie, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer at that time. It will be useful for researchers.This is a piece of cream-coloured thin parchment paper folded in two. It has handwritten material on two pages (black ink) containing details of the Letters of Administration following the death of John Moloney of Bushfield in 1897. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat dirty but quite legible. The numbers ‘255’ and ‘14’ are written in blue pencil on the back page. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Estate of John Moloney late of Bushfield in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceased Intestatejohn moloney, warrnambool, william ardlie, bushfield, tait collection

This bat was awarded to Thomas William Southcombe in 1876 for the best batting average during the 1875-6 season at Warrnambool Cricket Club. Thomas William Southcombe was the son of Thomas and Mary Southcombe of Port Fairy. With his parents, Thomas and Mary, he arrived in Port Fairy in 1854. Thomas Senior was a carpenter who established several businesses in Port Fairy and served on the local Council for many years as a Councillor and Mayor. Thomas Junior appears to have migrated to U.S.A. and died there in 1904. The cricket bat was manufactured by the British firm of James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co. James Lillywhite was an English cricketer whose uncle had originally established the sports store and manufacturing business which lasted under various names until the 21st century. A cricketer named Lillywhite played in Warrnambool in 1874 with an All England Team under the captaincy of W.G.Grace. It is not known whether this was James Lillywhite or another member of the Liilywhite family as several of them played first class cricket.. The impression of the signature of W.H.Ponsford on the bat is an intriguing one. W.H. (Bill) Ponsford was a famous Australian cricketer who retired in the late 1930s. The Southcombe cricket bat was given by Mary Southcombe (Thomas’ sister) to the old Warrnambool Museum in 1923 and it is surmised that Bill Ponsford visited Warrnambool in 1957 (tthis appears to be the date under the signature imprint) and was shown the bat. It is then surmised that he rested a piece of paper or an album page on the bat while he signed his name and the impression of the signature has come through onto the bat. The old Museum closed in the 1960s and the bat was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society from the Warrnambool City Council collection of items from the Museum. This bat is of considerable importance because of its provenance and its connection with the Warrnambool Cricket Club, the Southcombe family of Port Fairy, the Lillywhite manufacturers, the old Warrnambool Museum and Bill Ponsford. It is also a good example of the type of cricket bat used in Australia in the 1870s. This is a wooden cricket bat (light colour wood, presumably willow) with a handle covered in oiled thread. It has an etched inscription on one side of the bat and the names of the manufacturer and distributor on the other side. There is also a faint impression of another signature. The blade of the bat is slightly curved. ‘W.C.C. Season 1875-6 Presented to T.W. Southcombe, for Best Batting Average’ ‘James Lillywhite Frowd & Co., Manufacturers, Borough, England’ ‘Made for George Marsh, Melbourne’ ‘W.H.Ponsford, -/1/1957’ warrnambool cricket club, thomas william southcombe, w.h.ponsford, warrnambool’s old museum

This book, by the well-known author R.M.Ballantyne, was awarded to Edith Newton in 1877 when she was a pupil at the Warrnambool State School. This school was opened on August 1st 1876 when the National School in Warrnambool closed and most of the pupils of other denominational schools in Warrnambool at the time moved to the new State School. The Head Teacher, William Bryant was at the school until 1894. (Blanch) Edith Newton was born in 1868, the eighth child of Robert and Mary Newton. Robert Newton was a Rate Collector, Borough Inspector and Manager of the Town Common in Warrnambool. It is noted that the prize received by Edith Newton was an adventure book mostly appealing to male readers. This book is significant because it is connected with important elements in Warrnambool in 1877 – the school, Warrnambool State School, the pupil, Edith Newton and the Head Teacher, William Bryant,This is a hard cover book of 330 pages. It has a dark red cover with etched ornamental borders and patterns and an image of a jungle scene on the front cover and on the spine. The title and author’s name are in gold lettering. At the heading of each chapter there is an ornamental scroll and there are several black and white sketches throughout the pages. There are blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society at the front and back of the book and a school plate label attached to the inside front cover. The spine is partly detached and torn and the cover is very worn and water or mould damaged. A letter from the donor accompanies the book. ‘Warrnambool State School, No. 1743, Prize Awarded to Edith Newton, 4th Class, Divn. 111, for Home Exercises, 19th December 1877, W.Bryant, Head Teacher.’ warrnambool state school, history of warrnambool, william bryant, edith newton

The original inscription in this Bible is interesting but no information has been found on Mary MacLeod or Hazel O’Moore-Skelly except to note that Eleanor Hazel Cameron, nee O’Moore-Skelly, (1914 -1989) is buried in the Allambie Park Cemetery, Albany. The Bible was given to Berenice Angus by Sister Ingpen of Warrnambool. The accompanying note that indicated that it came from Sister Ingpen is now missing. The later inscriptions indicate that Berenice Angus had this Bible in the early 1950s at her school in Geelong, ‘The Hermitage’. Sister Amy Ingpen (1878- 1965) was an important figure in Warrnambool’s history. She trained as a nurse and was said to be the first Victorian country nurse to qualify for the Midwifery Certificate. She initially assisted Dr Thomas Scott and later Doctor Gerald Baldwin at the ‘Alveston’ Private Hospital (corner Darling and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool). She then took sole control of the private hospital and ran this hospital for a great number of years, providing expert care for midwifery, surgical and medical cases. Berenice Angus (Berry McDade) is the daughter of Dr Roy and Gladys Angus. Dr Angus (1901-1970) came to Warrnambool in 1939 and practised at ‘Birchwood’ in Koroit Street and in later years as an ophthalmologist. This book is of interest because of its connection with Sister Ingpen, a prominent nurse in 20th century Warrnambool and the Angus family of Warrnambool. This is a black soft leather- covered Bible of 1208 pages. The cover extends over the edges of the pages. It has gold lettering on the spine and gold edging on the pages. The inside covers are black. The book has been silk bound but is now partly detached from inside the spine. Some pages are loose and have been mended with glue. Some of the pages have ink staining and the cover is worn with the top and bottom of the spine cover broken and torn. There is an inscription on the black inside cover and one of the first pages and a stamp from the Warrnambool & District Historical Society.‘Mary’ ‘Mary MacLeod with love from Hazel O’Moore-Skelly’ ‘When this you see, Remember me’ ‘Berenice Angus, 1952’ ‘Berenice Angus, The Hermitage, Geelong, 1952 (almost indecipherable) hazel o’moore-skelly, mary macleod, berenice mcdade (angus), dr angus, sister ingpen, history of warrnambool

This book belonged to Mary Norman- Bail (1883-1962). She came to Warrnambool in 1901 and studied art and became an art teacher and artist. She moved to Echuca and then Ararat where she set up a school called The Pathfinder. She became well known as an artist and exhibited her work in the Victorian Artists Exhibitions. In 1922 she married Jesse Bail and had one child named Jessica . Several of her paintings are in the Warrnambool and District Historical Society collection.This book is of considerable interest because of its connection to a Warrnambool artist.This a soft covered book of 88 pages. It has a blue cover with black printing and an image of a weaving loom. It contains printed material and many illustrations and diagrams. The Pathfinder School Ararat St. Andrew's M NORMAN - BAIL Principal and Proprietormary norman- bail, warrnambool

This book was given as a prize to William Giles in the late 19th century. It came from the Skiddaw Sunday (or Sabbath) School. Skiddaw was the home of the Batterbee family and was situated on the old Princes Highway in East Warrnambool near Simpson Street today. The corner here was known as ‘Batterbees Corner’ and there is a Skiddaw Street in the locality today. George Batterbee had a ham and bacon business in Warrnambool. For 36 years his wife, Mary, conducted a Sunday School at Skiddaw (from 1882 to 1918). This Sunday School was under the auspices of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool. Mrs Batterbee was assisted by her daughter Florinda and other teachers. Florinda and her brother Rex were both artists of note. William Giles and his family lived on the Allansford Road. The Logan family farm was in the vicinity of where Logans Beach is today. This book, though tattered and stained, is most important as the only item we have in our collection that is associated with the Skiddaw Sunday School. Situated in a family home, this Presbyterian-sponsored Sunday School operated for 36 years under the direction of Mary Batterbee. This is a book of 32 pages with the cover and perhaps some of the pages missing. It has been stapled but the staples have been removed. The book has large print and illustrations on all the pages. The illustrations have been coloured in by hand. The first page is loose and scribbled on. The pages are very stained and torn in places. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Skiddaw S. School, Second Prize, Awarded to William Giles for diligence in class, S. Logan, Teacher’. skiddaw, east warrnambool, batterbee family, giles family, logan family, history of warrnambool

This is a primer, or first reader, printed by the Victorian Government Printer for the Victorian Education Department. It has the name ‘Christina Giles’ and the date 1898 which is also the date of the publication of the book. Christina Giles was the seventh child of Henry and Mary Anne Giles and was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness. The book would have been used at Wangoom State School. This school was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645. It is now closedThis book is of considerable interest as it is a reader produced for the Victorian Education Department in 1898. It has no overt Australian content but an illustration of a tram in the text has the wording ‘South Melbourne’ on it. It is also of interest as a school book used by Christina Giles in the year before her death.This is a soft cover book of 65 pages. The cover is black and may not be the original one as it has been roughly stitched on to the pages with thread and is much frayed. The text has many black and white illustrations and some of the pictures are torn with parts missing. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Christina Giles, 30/5/98’christina giles, wangoom state school, victorian school reader 1898

This is a school text book used at the Wangoom State School late in the 19th century by members of the Giles family. The Wangoom school was established in1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Allan and Christina Giles used this book and their home was on the Allansford Road. Christina Giles, the seventh child of Henry and Mary Jane Giles, was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness.This book is of interest as it is an example of the reading books used in Victorian schools at the end of the 19th century. Royal Readers were introduced into Victorian school in the 1870s to replace the Irish Readers and continued to be used until the 1920s. They have no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by Christina and Allan Giles, members of a family of early settlers in the Warrnambool district.This is a hard cover book of 188 pages. Some pages at the front and back of the book are missing. The cover (once blue?) has embossed lettering and ornamentation but mostly this is now indecipherable. The pages are partly detached from the cover. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. The text contains many illustrations and some of these have been hand-coloured and defaced. The first page has a mauve stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ (partly obliterated) ‘Christina G.’ christina giles, allan giles, wangoom state school

This school text book was used at the Wangoom State School by Henrietta Giles in the late 19th century. The Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Robina Victoria Giles was born in Woodford in 1881 to Henry and Mary Jane Giles, early settlers in the Warrnambool district. They lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of a school text book used in Victoria late in the 19th century. It is also of interest because it belonged to Henrietta Giles, a member of a family living in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 70 pages. The cover is brown with embossed lettering and ornamentation on the front and back cover. It is much stained and splotched. The first page is torn at the edge and some of the other pages are dog-eared. The two inscriptions (identical) are handwritten in black ink.‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Wangoom State School, No. 645’ wangoom state school, henrietta giles

Slate has been used for hundreds of years as a base for writing and many young students began their schooling using one to practise their writing. They had many advantages among them the fact that they were reusable and errors could be erased and corrected. A small duster or cloth was often attached for cleaning.This slate belonged to Olive Ardlie who was the daughter of Arthur Stanley Ardlie and Ethel Mary Lisburne (nee Ryan). They lived at "Aroona" 19 Princess St Warrnambool and Arthur worked as an accountant in his father's law firm. Olive was their eldest child and she died in 1912 at the age of 6. She was the granddaughter of William Ardlie one of Warrnambool's earliest residents and one of the state's longest serving solicitors . Olive had two sisters one of whom donated this slate. A common object with links to one of Warrnambool's oldest and well known families.Four sided slate with unpainted wooden frame. Hinged in the centre with metal hinges. Inside Olive Ardlie 13.2.1911 is written on the wood at the top of the frame.Olive Ardlie 13.2.1911 is written on the wood at the top of the frame.warrnambool, olive ardlie

This book was awarded in 1884 to Bessie McMahon from the Warrnambool State School. The teacher was Bella Davidson. Warrnambool State School No. 1743 in Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, was opened in 1876 and is still open today. Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) McMahon was the daughter of William and Mary McMahon of Glenrye, Warrnambool. Her father was a Warrnambool lawyer. Bessie McMahon married John Clarke of Garvoc. Isabella (Bella) Davidson was the daughter of John and Isabella Davidson of Rosebank near Woodford. She became a well-known teacher in Warrnambool, commencing as a pupil teacher in the Warrnambool National School (later Common School 646) and moving to the Warrnambool State School in Jamieson Street when it opened. She resigned in 1886 to open a private school in Koroit Street (known as Ellerslie College) and continued as the proprietor and Head Teacher until 1891. This book is of considerable importance because of its association with the Warrnambool State School early in its existence, with Bella Davidson, a noted Warrnambool educationalist of the 19th century and with Bessie McMahon, a member of a prominent family in 19th century Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 310 pages. The cover has a blue background with gold and black ornamentation and a gold shield. The shield contains an illustration of a girl lowering a bundle down from a window to a boy below. The lettering on the cover and spine is gold and the pages are gilt-edged. The cover is slightly stained. There are several full-page black and white illustrations scattered throughout the pages. The illustration at the front of the book is loose and the binding is partly detached from the spine. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Warrnambool State School 1743 Decem 1884 Prize Awarded to Bessie McMahon for highest marks in French Div 111 B. Davidson’ warrnambool state school, bella davidson, bessie mcmahon, history of warrnambool

This book was a prize awarded to Annis Morgan from the Woodford Presbyterian Sunday School. There is no date but the book was published in 1887. The Sunday Magazine was published each year in Britain as an Annual with short stories, poetry and articles, designed as suitable books for children to read on Sundays. Annis Morgan was born in Woodford to Jenkin and Mary Morgan in 1874. She would have been about 13 when she received this prize. Annis (Ann) Morgan married Alan Patterson in 1897. The Woodford Presbyterian Church was established in 1856 and administered at that time by the Warrnambool Presbyterian Church. In 1882 the Woodford and Grasmere Presbyterian Churches became a separate entity with the first Minister, the Rev. Robert Wilson Rock. This book is of interest as it is a good example of the type of book given as Sunday School prizes to young girls in the 1880s. It is also of significance as it belonged to a local girl, resident in Woodford in the late 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 848 pages. The cover is olive green and black with ornamental scrolls and borders and gold lettering on both the front cover and the spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The front cover is partly detached from the binding. The book has an index, short stories, Biblical papers, biographical, historical and missionary articles and poetry. There are many black and white illustrations and sketches throughout the text and, at the front of the book, there is a full page black and white illustration protected by a piece of tissue paper. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Woodford Pres. Sabbath School, Rev. R. W. Rock’s Class, First Prize Annis Morgan’. woodford presbyterian church, annis morgan, history of warrnambool

The contents of this display case are known as Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914. In October 1914 Princess Mary, the 17 year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, launched an appeal to raise funds to produce a Christmas present for every person serving in the British and Allied Forces in World War One. The Christmas box was a silver one for officers and a brass one for other ranks. The box usually contained a packet of cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary but some boxes contained confectionery, notebooks, pencils etc. By Christmas 1914 200,000 boxes had been distributed but it took until 1920 to dispose of the 2,500,000 boxes that were produced. Many of the boxes given to Australian servicemen have survived but few contain any or all of the contents. It is not known to whom this box was sent. This box and its contents are of great interest as an important memento of Australian participation in World War One. This is a rectangular brass tin and its contents – two yellow cardboard boxes which originally held cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. The five items are displayed within a rectangular wooden box with a removable glass top. The brass tin is embossed with an image in the centre of Princess Mary surrounded by a laurel wreath. The embossing includes the letter ‘M’ (twice) and the names of some of the allies of Britain in World War One. Christmas Card: ‘With Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year from The Princess Mary and Friends at Home’ Cigarettes and Tobacco Boxes: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914’. warrnambool and world war one, princess mary’s christmas fund 1914

This is an early map of the Borough of Warrnambool (1872/3) showing the central town area of Warrnambool and the surrounding district. Reserves, public buildings and some businesses are marked. The map was photolithographed by John Noone, a Melbourne artist and photographer who claimed in 1858 to have the oldest-existing photographic studio in Melbourne. Photolithography was a process first developed in Melbourne. For several years Noone was the official photographer for the Victorian Crown Lands Office and for the Victorian Public Library and Museum. The map has the stamp of the seller of the map – Charles Hider, the well-known stationer and bookseller in Timor Street, Warrnambool. The owner of the map, Henry George Marfell, (1883-1962) was the son of John and Mary Ann Marfell. The Marfells were well-known in Warrnambool as grain merchants and managers of the Warrnambool Co-Operative Milling Company. It is surmised from the writing on the Marfell label that this map was at some stage given by Henry Marfell to the old Warrnambool MuseumThis map of early Warrnambool is of considerable significance, firstly because its original state and early date (1873) make it of antiquarian and historical interest. Also the connection with the names, Charles Hider and Henry Marfell and the old Museum gives it added provenance and interest.This is a wax paper map mounted on cloth. At the top it is attached by nails to a piece of wood and at the top it has a cloth ring for hanging the map. The map is in black shadings on a yellow background. The map is badly creased and coming away from the cloth at the edges and at other various points. There is some red or pink marking or staining on the township area of the map (originally the sold lands on this map were coloured in brown and the reserves, buildings, etc in pink). On the left hand corner there is a piece of paper glued on with some handwriting in ink (Marfell). There is also the stamp of the seller of the map – Charles Hider, stationer and bookseller, of Timor Street Warrnambool‘Early Map of W’bool, H.G. Marfell’ history of warrnambool, charles hider, henry marfell

This book was printed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, 1887 (50th anniversary of her Coronation as Queen of England). John Markman is most likely the father or grandfather of Mary Snell (nee Markman). Mrs Snell was a teacher in Warrnambool and an active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in its early years. She wrote the first book on the origin of street names in Warrnambool. Allendale is a small settlement in the Hepburn area of Victoria. This book is of minor interest as a memento of Queen Victoria’s 1887 Jubilee and as a book that appears to have come to the Historical Society via an early member, Mary Snell (nee Markman). This is a book of 240 pages. It has a black cover with the imprint on the front cover of a crown and shield and the words ‘The Queen’s Jubilee, 1887, Victoria’ and on the back cover a circular scroll with the words, ‘British and Foreign Bible Society, New Testament’. The cover has been bound with black tape and adhesive tape but the binding has come apart. Several pages are torn at the edges and dog-eared. ‘John Markman, Allendale, 17th June 1887’ Copy of Queen Victoria’s handwritten message - ‘On earth peace, goodwill toward men, Victoria, Windsor Castle, March 8,1887’ john markman, mary snell, history of warrnambool.

This book is a 1988 reprint of an 1897 novel by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian writer of more than 20 novels and many travel books, short stories and magazine articles and achieved international recognition. The wife of Dr H.L. Miller, she lived in Warrnambool from 1894 to 1900. ‘Kirkham’s Find’ was written while she was in Warrnambool and is of particular local interest as it is partly set in an area that can be identified as Allansford. The novel outlines the difficulties faced by a woman in the 19th century if she wished to pursue a career and gives us a good description of 19th century rural Australia. Although it is only a reprint this novel is of some interest as it was written by Mary Gaunt, an Australian writer of considerable importance. As a one-time resident of Warrnambool and a writer using local places and situations in her stories, she has a place in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 340 pages. It has a purple cover with a reproduction of a 19th century painting on the front cover and material about the contents of the book on the back cover. The spine is an orange colour with black and white printing. The book has an introduction by Kylie Tennant, an afterword by Dale Spender and 29 chapters of a novel. mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, women in literature

This is a novel written by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian writer who published over 20 novels, many travel books, short stories and magazine articles and achieved an international reputation as an author and intrepid traveller, especially in Africa and China. From 1894 to 1900 she lived in Warrnambool (she was married to Dr H. L. Miller) and continued to write while she was resident in the town, using local places and situations in some of her writings. This is a significant book as it is an original copy of one of Mary Gaunt’s novels. As a resident of Warrnammbool for some time and as a significant Australia author she has her place in Warrnambool’s history. The inscription in the book does not have any known significance. This is a hard cover book of 314 pages. The cover is light brown with black printing on the front cover and spine and an image of a tropical island scene on the front cover. There are a signature in black ink and an inscription in pencil on the first page. The cover is very stained and the spine has a number ‘46’ on white paper glued on. ‘Charles R. Boucher’ ‘Dec. 25 1928, Charley from Ethel and Forest’. ‘46’ mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, australian literature

This letter written by Mary Adams concerns the sale of a property, ‘my Hopkins land’, perhaps in the Warrnambool area. No information is available on Mary Adams or her ‘Uncle Jim’. There is a reference in the letter to ‘Mr Lawson’ and this may refer to a member of the Lawson family living in Warrnambool about this time, perhaps Richard Lawson who, in 1908, was Principal of a private school, Warrnambool College Academy. The Mountain Grand Guest House in Warburton was a well-known guest house in Victoria for many years and was still in existence in 1948. The letter came to the Society’s collection with other material relating to the Warrnambool Club. As no enlightening information is available on this letter or its contents it is of little importance at this time. Further research may render it a useful item to keep. This is a letter of two pages written in 1908 by Mary Adams to her Uncle Jim. The letter is handwritten in black ink. The letter is written on the green notepaper of the Mountain Grand Guest House Warburton, Victoria‘Mountain Grand, Warburton’ (on letterhead)mary adams

This collection of short stories by Mary Gaunt has been edited and published by Bronwen Hickman. Mary Gaunt (1861-1942) was a writer of novels, travel books, short stories and other articles. She was known internationally for her writings in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Born in Chiltern, Victoria, she was the first woman to study at Melbourne University, travelled extensively in West Africa and China in areas rarely visited by white women and published 26 books. From 1894 to 1900 Mary Gaunt lived in Warrnambool where her husband, Hubert Lindsay Miller, was a local doctor. Some of her writings were produced while she was in Warrnambool and some have local content. This book, although a modern reprint, is important as the only collection of the short stories of the internationally-known author, Mary Gaunt that we have in our collection. Mary Gaunt not only lived and wrote in Warrnambool for some years but also used local places, people and events in her writings. One of the stories in ‘Life at Deadman’s’ (‘The Humbling of Sergeant Mahone’) is based on the events in the late 19th century when whisky was being made illegallyin the Nirranda district. Mary Gaunt apparently had met the real main character in this saga. This is a soft cover book of 178 pages. The cover is yellow with an image in sepia tones of Mary Gaunt. The lettering on the front cover and on the spine is green and black. The back cover contains critical comments on Mary Gaunt’s work and information on the editor. The book has a map, an introduction, a list of the sources of the stories, twelve short stories, a list of works by Mary Gaunt and a note on the author by the editor. ‘With Good Wishes Bronwen Hickman’ mary gaunt, dr h.l.miller, whiskey stills in the warrnambool district (19th century), history of warrnambool, australian women writers

This school reader was used by Edmond and Mary Grace at Laang State School. Laang is in the Western District and is eight kilometres from Garvoc and ten kilometres from Panmure. The Laang State School opened in 1875 with a new building being erected in 1876 and additions being added in 1889. The school is now closed. Edmond Morgan Grace was born to William and Mary Grace in 1886 and died in 1953. Mary was his sister. Charles Hider, with his brother James, were early settlers in Warrnambool and both ran book shops in the town. This book is of moderate interest as an example of a late 19th century school reader and as one used at Laang State School by the Grace family. This is a brown hard cover book of 398 pages. The cover has an embossed patterning and lettering. The binding has come apart and has been mended with white adhesive tape. Some pages at the front and back are missing. The book has a contents page and three sections of text. There are many black and white illustrations. The inscription is handwritten in blue ink. The cover is somewhat faded and rubbed and some pages are stained. There is a printed label of the seller of the book pasted onto the inside of the front cover. ‘Edmond M. Grace Laang State School’ ‘Mary Grace Laang S.S.’ ‘C.Hider Opposite Court House Warrnambool’ edmond and mary grace, laang state school, charles and james hider

This copy of Alexander Pope’s early 18th century translation of Homer’s Iliad dates from 1818. It has two signatures – Thomas Smith and Mary Riley. Nothing is known of the latter person. There were two people named Thomas Smith who were prominent in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. One was Thomas Smith the printer and the other was Thomas Smith, a farmer from Wangoom who had a daughter named Mary. It is not clear which of these may have owned the book but the signature suggests an educated person and we know that the son of Thomas Smith the farmer was illiterate so it is unlikely that the father owned a copy of Homer’s Iliad. This book is of interest because of its age (1818) and because of the inscriptions. There may be no connection between Thomas Smith and Mary Riley – merely two owners of the book. The book will have greater interest when its exact provenance can be established. This is a brown leather-bound book of 536 pages. The front cover and spine have gold ornamentation with gold lettering. The spine covering is partly torn away and the binding is coming apart. The pages show some staining. The two inscriptions are handwritten in black ink. The front pages have two black and white illustrations separated with tissue paper. ‘Tho. Smith’ ‘Mary G. Riley, Tillside, 20 George Street, East Melbourne, 24/5/1900’ homer’s iliad, history of warrnambool, thomas smith, mary riley

This book is a text book for senior students used at St. Joseph’s School, Warrnambool in 1891. A Catholic School was first established in Warrnambool in Kelp Street in the 1850s and later this school became Common School Number 680 situated in Kepler Street. This school was known as St. Joseph’s School after 1876 and was re-located to Lava Street in 1935. Today St. Joseph’s Primary School is located in Botanic Road, Warrnambool. The Kepler Street school building that would have been the one Minnie Beatie attended is still existing No confirmed information has been found on Minnie Beatie but there was a Mary Beatie who was born in Warrnambool in 1875 to Michael and Margaret Beatie and this may be Minnie who owned the text book. This book is of interest as an example of a science text book used in Warrnambool in the late 19th century. It is associated specifically with St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Warrnambool and with Minnie Beatie. This is a hard cover book of 144 pages. It has a red cover with red lettering on a black background on the front cover and black lettering on the spine. Inside the front and back covers is information on other books published by Blackie and Son. There are two pages of colour illustrations and many black and white illustrations. The cover is a little stained. The inscriptions are handwritten in blue ink. ‘Minnie Beattie St Josephs School Warrnambool 1891’ st. joseph’s catholic school, warrnambool, minnie beattie, animal physiology

This fragment was found in Bridge Road, Woodford on the site of the Travellers’ Rest Hotel, Woodford and it is believed that it may date from the time when the hotel was operating. The Travellers’ Rest Hotel in Woodford was established some time in the 1840s with the first known date, 1847. It pre-dates the settlement of Warrnambool founded in late 1847. The Travellers’ Rest Hotel was established by William Kirby and his wife Mary took over the hotel management when her husband was drowned in August 1847. The hotel had seven other licensees and closed in 1875. If this item comes from the time of the Travellers’ Rest Hotel in Woodford then it is of considerable interest as an early memento of that hotel and the early days of Woodford. This is a fragment of a black bottle or other domestic item. It is made of heavy glass and is curved and could be part of the base of the object. history of woodford, travellers’ rest hotel, woodford, warrnambool history

This is a book produced by Rex and Bernice Battarbee and contains reproductions of aboriginal art work, including the work of several of Albert Namatjira’s children. Reginald (Rex) Battarbee (1893-1973) was the son of George and Mary Battarbee who lived in East Warrnambool at a property called ‘Skiddaw’. Rex’s sister, Florinda was a local artist who was his first teacher of art. Rex became a well-known artist, depicting mainly the Central Australian landscape. He is credited with discovering and fostering the artistic talent of Albert Namatjira, the best-known of the early Australian aboriginal artists. This is one of the few mementoes we have of the artist Rex Battarbee who was born in Warrnambool and spent his early years in this city. This is a hard cover book with the pages unnumbered. The cover is brown with colour reproductions of two aboriginal paintings on the front and back cover. The printing on the front cover is in yellow and white lettering. The book contains written text and many reproductions of aboriginal paintings. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in black biro. ‘L. Durrant, From Russ, May 1979’. rex battarbee, aboriginal art, albert namatjira

This is a travel book written by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian author who gained international recognition for her novels, travel books, magazine articles and short stories. The wife of Dr H. L. Miller, she lived in Warrnambool from 1894 to 1900 and wrote some of her novels whilst in the town, using local scenes and situations for some of her writings. Her travel books are important as she wrote about her adventures in countries such as Africa and China where she was often touring places not previously visited by a white woman unaccompanied by other Europeans. This original copy of Mary Gaunt’s book about her travels in Jamaica is significant. Not only was Mary Gaunt a noted Australian writer but she was also a resident of Warrnambool for some time and thus has her place in Warrnambool’s history. This book was sent by Mary Gaunt to her brother Clive, resident in Rangoon at the time of the book’s publication. This is a hard cover book of 258 pages. The book has a dark green cover with gold lettering on the spine. The cover is very mottled and stained. There are four black and white photographs scattered throughout the text. A signature on the first page is in black ink and a small book plate is printed on a piece of paper which is pasted into the first page. ‘Clive Gaunt Rangoon’ ‘With the Author’s Compliments’ mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, australian literature