Black and white postcard showing a photograph of the Rutherglen Railway Station.Message on back: "Dear Mother. Am sending parcel by rail to Windsor Railway Stn by this mail. Love from Eve. Hope you get it safely." "Just going down to Auntie Mats. Writing in shop. Love Eve"railway stations, railway yards, trains

Collection of receipts/invoices dated October & November 1995. Receipts/invoices from Hume & Iser, Clark Rubber, Abbott Supply, Masfield Manufacturing, Blueline Office Supplies P/L, Bendigo Hire, Wesfarmers Dalgety, Victorian Producers for hardware, tools, ute mat, sponge rubber, office supplies, machine hire, dog chain and workboots,bendigo, council, cattle markets, bendigo saleyards collection - receipts, hume & iser, ron laird, clark rubber, abbott supply, masfield manufacturing, blueline office supplies p/l, bendigo hire, city of greater bendigo, wesfarmers dalgety, victorian producers, ben hinck

A Rossignol Mats Wilander-endorsed F200 tennis racquet with open throat, plastic butt cap and handle wrapped with leather. Manufacturer's name printed on horizontal throat piece. Model name printed on shoulder. Endorser's signature as decal on throat pillar. No net. Manufacturer's 'R' logo printed on butt cap. Materials: Adhesive tape, Ink, Plastic, Carbon, Leathertennis

This ARSA low vision jumbo quartz unisex watch is black mat aluminium with black face of 34 mm and 12 white figures and black leather strap. Auguste Reymond has now been the leading Swiss manufacturer for forty years in the field of Braille and low vision watches, distributing ARSA timepieces all over the world, in cooperation with all major associations dedicated to the support of the visually impaired. All timepieces are genuine Swiss made watches, assembly by hand in their premises.1 jumbo black and white watchassistive devices, arsa

Photograph: black and white photo, buff mat, black wooden frame, glass front. 20 men seated in three rows, dressed in suits and hats, oars crossed in front. Written on bottom of photo: S.R.C. Committee 1910 - 1911 ( Sandhurst Rowing Club ) Written on rear of frame ' Mr. J. Godfrey 3 from the right front row. ' 1/6 written in pencil.organization, club/society, sandhurst rowing club, sandhurst rowing club, sandhurst

‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ was an exhibition that toured to 10 Australian and 11 New Zealand public galleries in 1979 and 1980. The touring exhibition comprised 221 objects of traditional Japanese packaging which extended from ceramics, wood and paper to woven fibre containers. At the conclusion of the tour, The Japan Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council donated the vast majority of the exhibition to the Ararat Gallery for its permanent collection. Combining the natural qualities of bamboo, paper and straw with delicate craftsmanship, these unique objects express Japanese aesthetics as applied through fibre crafts. In Japan, the qualities and traits of natural materials are exploited rather than hidden. The texture of straw, the septa of bamboo are not concealed but lovingly incorporated into the whole. In 1979 Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ wrote: “In no way self-conscious or assertive, these wrappings have an artless and obedient air that greatly moves the modern viewer. They are whispered evidence of the Japanese ability to create beauty from the simplest products of nature. They also teach us that wisdom and feeling are especially important in packaging because these qualities, or the lack of them, are almost immediately apparent. What is the use of a package if it shows no feeling?” The descriptions of the featured objects were written by Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’, 1979.Gift of the Japan-Australia Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council, 1981Miniature copies of old-style rice bales are fashioned of reed (and tied with the same material) to serve as packages for sweets from the city of Saidaiji, near Okayama City. The material is appropriate, for Okayama is famous as a source of reed for making the floor mats called tatami. The handsome label, made of dyed paper, is fastened to the package with mizuhiki, the cords traditionally tied around ceremonial gifts. - Professor Hideyuki Oka, curator.japanese art, japanese packaging, tsutsumi, gift giving

This photograph shows members of the Orbost Agricultural Show committee about 1908 with L to R : S. Lynn; John Russell; Mat Lynch; W. Warren; John Johnson; Will Cumming & Geo. Perry. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall) This item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. A faded black / white photograph of seven men standing outside with trees in the background.on back - " Orbost Agricultural Show" and list of men in photograph.orbost-agricultural-society annual-show

The loom was made by John Charles Mann in the late 1920s-early 1930s for Lilian Joyce Mann. Mr Mann enjoyed woodwork. He died in 1945. Ms Mann was very interested in crafts and owned a shop in Jacob Street which sold handmade soft toys and items woven from the loom, for example table mats. The shop was later bought out by Henry Jacobs and later became Myer. Ms Mann died on the 17th July 2007. Ms Mann was a founding and life member of the Geelong Handweavers and Spinners Guild.W7219 (Mann loom) Lilian Joyce Mann's loom in house Lilian Joyce Mann's loom in houseOxy & Electric Welding Motor & Gehandicrafts, geelong handweavers and spinners guild inc., weaving looms, weaving, mann, mr john charles mann, ms lilian joyce, geelong, victoria

The owner was John Conrad Brown NR 706 of the 38 Bn. He was severely wounded in action (GSW to face and left arm). He returned to Australia and was pensioned off. The owner had this artwork in his house at Goornong until a storm blew the roof off. It was important to him.This is a large black and white print depicting a scene in the Amiens battle. It shows Australian and German men fighting. A small stone bridge is near the centre of the work. High explosive blasts are depicted in the picture. It is finely detailed i.e. buttons on uniforms and dovetail joints in the ammunition box. It is set in a thick card mat. Under the image is the caption. The frame is a simple heavy timber type. The rear has a paper cover but is broken away.The artist was F. Matania. (Fortunino Matania)ww1, amiens, 9 brigade, framed print

Black and white photograph. Male in evening wear standing next to grand piano. Pictures on wall. Mats on wooden floor. Inscriptions: on back - handwritten in pencil 'Anthony Strange at Lansdowne May 31, 1949'. Blue circular stamp : 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. History of Object: Edith Lunn 5.11.1999 'Anthony Strange at Lansdowne House, home of Albert Bush, Williamson Street'. Previous Acc. No. P669.person, group, portrait

‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ was an exhibition that toured to 10 Australian and 11 New Zealand public galleries in 1979 and 1980. The touring exhibition comprised 221 objects of traditional Japanese packaging which extended from ceramics, wood and paper to woven fibre containers. At the conclusion of the tour, The Japan Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council donated the vast majority of the exhibition to the Ararat Gallery for its permanent collection. Combining the natural qualities of bamboo, paper and straw with delicate craftsmanship, these unique objects express Japanese aesthetics as applied through fibre crafts. In Japan, the qualities and traits of natural materials are exploited rather than hidden. The texture of straw, the septa of bamboo are not concealed but lovingly incorporated into the whole. In 1979 Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ wrote: “In no way self-conscious or assertive, these wrappings have an artless and obedient air that greatly moves the modern viewer. They are whispered evidence of the Japanese ability to create beauty from the simplest products of nature. They also teach us that wisdom and feeling are especially important in packaging because these qualities, or the lack of them, are almost immediately apparent. What is the use of a package if it shows no feeling?” The descriptions of the featured objects were written by Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’, 1979.Gift of the Japan-Australia Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council, 1981This toy is a product of Tottori City, and its only connection with traditional packaging is that it copies the mats used to close the straw bales in which rice is packed for the market. It is interesting, nevertheless, for its clever use of such a cheap and common material, and there is no denying its charm. The two dolls, made of paper and wood, represent the emperor and empress who occupy the chief places in the traditional Doll Festival display. - Professor Hideyuki Oka, curator.japanese art, japanese packaging, tsutsumi, gift giving

Presented by Sir Walter Leitch KB, CBE to the Drums of the Victorian Scottish Regiment for Annual competition 30/11/37.Trophy is of a silver finish, is of a cup and standard style with two handles the base is of a compisit mat. Base has a plate engraved 1938 DMR J.W.E WARHURST, 1963 DMR R. LORD, 1964 DMR W. STEVENS Cup is engraved "Presented by Sir Walter Leitch KB, CBE to the Drums of the Victorian Scottish Regiment for Annual competition 30/11/37. 1 x handle has been broken off.1938 DMR J.W.E WARHURST, 1963 DMR R. LORD, 1964 DMR W. STEVENS Cup is engraved "Presented by Sir Walter Leitch KB, CBE to the Drums of the Victorian Scottish Regiment for Annual competition 30/11/37trophy, 5/6 rvr pipes and drums, victorian scottish, 5/6 rvr bhq

This secretaire once stood proudly in the de Kerilleau homestead at Wodonga. The homestead had been built for William Huon, son of the early pastoralist Paul Huon, in 1870 and named after the family's ancestral estate in France. The original lease of the Wodonga Run was granted to Paul Huon as No. 202 on 7th February 1837, about a year after his cousin Charles Huon had squatted on the land. Kenneth Darnton Watson bought de Kerilleau homestead in 1922 where the Watson family lived for three generations, caring for the land and serving the Wodonga community. Kenneth, his son Ian Darnton Watson and his grandson John Kenneth Darnton Watson all served on the Wodonga Council. John Kenneth Darnton Watson was born on 28 August 1960 in Wodonga. After completing his primary schooling locally, he boarded at Geelong College from 1973. John joined the rowing crews, starting in the 8th VIII crew and reaching the 1st VIII crew in 1978. He received multiple House colours awards for cross country, athletics and rowing and received School colours for rowing. On completion of his schooling, John spent some time jackarooing before studying farm management at Marcus Oldham College. He then returned home to de Kerilleau, Wodonga to manage the family property. In 1984 John married Christine Honybun, daughter of David Lewis Honybun and Marian Josephine Edkins. John and Christine had three sons. John was community minded and involved in a number of local organisations such as Apex and agricultural societies. He was elected to Wodonga City Council in 1997, serving until 2004. Due to increased pressure on available land to cater for the growth of Wodonga, some of the property was sold and in 2003 John donated 200 ha of Huon Hill ‘s western slopes to the City of Wodonga. After this time, he moved away from farming to become a Hungry Jack's franchisee. In 2009, the hard decision was made to sell de Kerilleau and John and his family moved into Wodonga. After sadly losing Christine to cancer in 2017, John became a member and Deputy Chairperson of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund Board and Ambassador for the Sunshine Walk. Tragically after his own cancer battle, John Kenneth Darnton Watson passed away on 24 August 2023, aged 62 years following a life of service to the Wodonga community.This item is significant because it was owned by a prominent Wodonga family and came from a Historic Homestead in WodongaA secretaire with bookcase made of cedar. The bottom section has two cupboards with shelves. These doors support the desk when it is fully opened. Above this section is one large drawer, the front of which opens by pressing a small internal button on each side. The open drawer reveals a desk with a leather writing mat and several compartments. The desk is topped by a book shelf with 3 adjustable shelves. It has lockable glass doors.watson family wodonga, de kerilleau homestead, john watson

Black and white photograph: head and shoulders portrait of Mrs. C.B. McCallum (nee Cecilia Scantlebury) set in an oval shape within a mustard brown coloured mat. She is wearing a blouse with high neck fastening and small round rimless glasses. On the bottom of the portrait, printed in black, the following inscription: 'Mrs C.B. McCallum, Beloved President of the Bendigo W.C.T.U for 22 years. Comrade of yesterday, now Saint of God. May 3rd, 1920'.On bottom right hand corner ' Bartlett Bros. Photo Bendigo'

Events, Y.M.C.A., Y's Workbox, Display & Demonstration of Unusual Crafts, Sunday October 28. 1984, at the YMCA Stadium, Mundy Street, Bendigo, 10am-5pm.Crafts including; Bobbin Lace, Marquetry,Tatting, Leadlighting,Vietnamese Wood Carving, Decoupage,Model Vintage Cars,& Tanks,Embroidery,Pen Etching,Material Mats, Ribbon Flowers,Wooden ''Dummies'',Machine Embroidery, Candlewicking on Calico,Wooden Dolls, Porcelain Dolls, & many more. C.Marrone.C.Marroneevent, exhibition, bendigo y.m.c.a.

Place Mat used at the celebratory dinner of the BTM at the Sebastopol Bowling Club - 24 September 2005. Produced by the Bowling Club. Has words "Tram Museum / 100 years / On behalf of Sebastopol Bowling Club Inc we hope you have a wonderful day!", with Bowling club logo. Features photos of No. 31 at Victoria St. terminus and No. 26 c 1960 at intersection of Sturt and Lydiard St. North". Two copies held.trams, tramways, btm, 100 years of electric trams, sebastopol

Four pen and wash sketches - Gannets at Point Danger. Sketches mounted one beneath the other. Sketches have a white background, black ink, several different colour washes, double white mat board, blonde wooden frame, reflective glass, wire hanger on back. Images from top to bottom: Single Gannet / 7 gannets / Gannets sitting, one at the back looks to be in flight / Gannets on the shore, sea behind and an islandFront: Each image is signed 'M. Boag July 2015'. black ink, lower right cornergannets, portland wildlife, birds, point danger

Laura and Bernard Ashley began printing fabric in their London kitchen in 1953. Commencing with head scarves and place-mats they gradually developed table-ware and bed sheets. In 1960 they entered the Fashion world with blouses and smocks . The ‘swinging sixties’ saw them in great demand for the feminine florals and flounces of the ‘maxi’ fashions and they opened in smart South Kensington, London. In 1970 they opened franchises in Australia, Canada, Japan, San Francisco that sold their range of fabrics, dresses and accessories. In 1980 home furnishings were added to the range. Laura died in an accident 1985, Bernard retired in1993 and the company is now Public Listed on Stock Exchange.‘Laura Ashley’ clothing, fabric and accessories were very popular in Melbourne in 1970’s.A lady’s white cotton half petticoat with crocheted flounce, Laura Ashley Pty Ltdclothing, brighton, moorabbin, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, textiles, laura ashley

Black and white photograph with a white border. Image is taken from inside the main hall of the Mission to Seafarers Melbourne. It shows a radiator, noticeboard, group of six chairs around a coffee table (all situated on a mat), jukebox, two chairs next to a wall and three vases of flowers in front of two of the main hall's arch windows. The hardwood floorboards are visible, as is the wainscote (wood panelling) on the walls in the background. Overhead lights are also visible as is a fan next to one of the windows.window, jukebox, main-hall, wainscote, wood-panelling, arch, chairs, mission to seafarers, mission to seamen, music, arched windows, floorboards, flowers

B+W Group photo on cream board. 4 males + 4 females, perhaps a family group as there is a family facial resemblance. There are 2 generations . Older man + woman (mother + father?) seated in leather chairs with armrests. The younger 6 are standing behind with the youngest seated at centre of older ones. All in 'good' clothes, males in 3 piece suits + ties, women in 'Sunday best' dresses. Group centred on a large floral mat. Inscription: Bartlett Bros. BendigoBartlett bros. Bendigoperson, group, possibly, family group

This is a photograph of An Orbost Agricultural Show Committe. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall) This photographs is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. A large Black / white photograph on grey card. It shows two rows of men. The back row is standing and the front sitting. They are posed in front of a wooden building with an open door. On the left is a water tankon front - Howard D. Bulmer Photographer on right - hand-written < Jack Gilbert X on back - hand-written - L_R Arthur Rodwell, Mat Lynch, Rupert Mosely, S. Lynn, A. Pardew, John Gilbert, John Bird on sticker - "Take off man marked X Mr Matthew Lynch of Orbost"photograph-orbost-agricultural-society

A number of names written on the back of the photograph match with names in the Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report 1897 and 1898. These are: Robert Allan; (Thomas E. or William T. ) Atherton; Percy Bailey, James A. Bass; Fred F. Bradford; William Brokenshire; Joseph Bryant; Cecil Eeles; Thomas Evans; William C. Gosman; John Hill; Edward P. Johnson; Duncan W. Kennedy; James Kidd; John W. Martin; Percy Osborne; J.A. Porter; Thomas Phillipson; Frank A. Steward; Robert G. Todd; Thomas A. Uthwatt A number of names are not matched: - Bollin, Curry, Morey, Mann. ThompsonBlack and white photograph mounted on grey card showing a number of students and instructors of the Ballarat School of mines. They are thought to be in the Ballarat School of Mines Materia Medica Garden (System Garden) for either a botany, chemistry or materia medica lesson, or as part of the Ballarat Field Naturalists group. The person at the front wearing an apron is George Porter Day.A number of names are written in ink on the back of the photo " Tom Evans, Osborne, Atherton, Phillipson, Eccles, Allan, Todd, Morey, Bradford, Curry, John Marian, Char Bailey, Uthwatt, John M. Sutherland, Kennedy, Mat Thompson, Hill, Steward, Martin, Kidd, Brokenshire, Gosman, Bollin, William D. Hill, "ballarat school of mines, science, material media, botanical gardens, system garden, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, bollin, curry, morey, mann, thompson, james a. bass, fred f. bradford, william brokenshire, joseph bryant, cecil eeles, thomas evans, william gosman, john hill, edward johnson, duncan kennedy, james kidd, john martin, percy osborne, j.a. porter, thomas phillipson, frank steward, robert todd, thomas uthwatt, photography, foto, class, george day, george porter day, atherton, percy bailey, parks and gardens

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photograph collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series provides an insight into the early days of Churchill Island as a Conservation site. Robert Ingpen is a renowned graphic designer and book illustrator who was born in Geelong in 1936. In 1968 he became the only Australian to be awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his International contribution to book illustrations. Robert Ingpen did a classic set of drawings of Churchill Island (circa 1976), before the farm restoration. They were originally sold to raise funds for the conservation of Churchill Island and can still be seen as prints or depicted on place mats and coasters. Black and White photograph of Robert IngpenCatalogue number written on reverse in pencil. Handwritten on reverse 'Artist Robert Ingpen' churchill island

The Deep Lead School No 721 Back Row: Fred Mow Fung, Norm Andrewartha, Ned Mow Fung, Ern Smart, Bert Pope, JackPeters, Dick Ross. 2nd Row: Charlie Mutzig, Joe Smart, Alice Mow Fung, Polly Heiller, Ethel Liddell, Till Perry, Agg Pope, Carry Perry, Lizzie Pope 3rd Row: Annie Peters, Elsi Mow Fung, Elsie Haweds, Maud Perry, Mabel Hardinham, Lousie Ah Look, Ester Thomson. Front Row: Bob Perry, Mat Smart, Jim Harinham, Julie Perry, Will Perry, Dick Anrewartha , Albert Ah Look. Ginny Pope B/W Photo of Students and Teacherdeep lead school

Swifts Football Club Premiers 1928. Names on Back Back Row Left to Right: Gerry Hughes, Claude Raitt, Norm Davies, Stuart McMullin (Secretary & Player), Joe Earle, Cec Hodder (Commitee), Middle Row LeftTo Right: Putt Blachford (Trainer), Morgie Abrahmans, Bill Earle, Barney (Les)McConville, Don Raitt (Captain), Jim Callender, Augie Greenberger, Alan Peterson, Ern Borella (Tainer) Front Row LeftTp Right: Alf Hunt, Jack Jenkins, Jack (Shonner) Healy, Tackle Rickard, Mat Pope (President), Albert Daley, DickTaylor, Stan (Yank) Faulkner, Alvie Dart.stawell sport

The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall) This frame was made by Mary Lynch, wife of Matt Lynch. Pictured in the photograph are: Back: W. Fisher, Archie Rodwell, Mat Lynch, Rupert Mosley, George Granter, Arthur Saunders, Arther Pardew, John Bird, John Gilbert. Front: Bill Ginning, George Perry (secretary) John Johnston (president), Carl Dreverman.This item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. It is also an example of the craft skills of women in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a group of thirteen men, some standing, some sitting in front of a wooden shed. The photograph is in an ornate frame made of dried seeds.on front - "Orbost Agricultural Show Committee probably 1904"orbost-agricultural-society lynch-mary orbost-show

The Birds of Australia is a 12 volume work, in a total of 14 books. The books were used as an ornithological handbook. They contain scientific text as well as over 600 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, H. Grönvold, Roland Green, H. Goodchild and G.E. Lodge. The work was written, sponsored and organised by Gregory M. Matthews, F.R.S.C. Erc. who were a wealthy Australian and an amateur ornithologist? His titles included – -Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies of London -Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union -Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union The volumes in our collection were originally donated to the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library by William Lindsay. THE LINDSAYS (quoted from the book Of Many Things – A History of Warrnambool Shire by C.E. Sayers) The Lindsays were amongst the most prominent families in the Shire of Warrnambool, as pastoralists, sportsmen, municipal councillors, community leaders. The first of the family William arrived in Melbourne in 1841 and started a business as a livestock agent. The gold rushes sent him to the central Victoria diggings dealing in cattle. This was a business that boomed in the early 1850s, and he prospered. In 1859 he took over the Quamby run near Woolsthrope from Paul de Castella, the Yarra Valley Swiss vigneron who had brought the leasehold and improvements in 1853 from George You, who had pioneered the run. Quamby was originally 25,000 acres. It was heavily timbered, rough country, much of it swampy, a characteristic of the district. Lindsay used it to fatten cattle which gave large returns with the booming gold diggings towns paying high prices for beef. In 1862 purchases at auction made Quamby a freehold. In the next six years, a further 20,000 acres of Crown land were brought at auction to make the run one of the largest in the south-west district. The great profits from his cattle trading enabled Lindsay to make improvements to the holding, and to Union which was added in 1864. Much of the thick timber was cleared and the worst of the swamps drained. Union was 15,000 acres of freehold land when Kennedy sold it to Lindsay. It was heavily timbered, mostly blackwood, with large belts of wattle and honeysuckle. Much of the heavy native was ringbarked and cleared; much more was swept away by bushfire. It was expensive work, but Lindsay’s bank passbook was heavy with credit, and he did not spare money to make both Quamby and Union heavily developed stock runs. He was as lavish in social living; the bluestone Quamby homestead was one of the most hospitable in the district when William Lindsay was host there; its paddocks carried high-quality thoroughbreds: its stables housed steeplechasers and flat racers which won many races on Warrnambool and other courses; its coach houses were filled with carriages which took his guests to the great racing carnivals of the district. After William Lindsay died in 1897, in his eighty-fifth year, his two sons, William and James, managed Union and Quamby as a joint venture. This partnership ended in 1906 when William took over Union and James kept Quamby. The following year 10,000 acres of Union was subdivided and sold in lots of 100 acres to 700 acres for dairying and general farming. It was well-improved country, much of it alluvial flats. By then many of the paddocks were sheltered with blue gum belts, and they carried good pastures. The three Lindsays, father and two sons, gave many years of service to the Shire, and to many charitable, sporting, social and community organisations in the Warrnambool district. William Lindsay senior, was a Shire councillor for 15 years, and President several times. James Lindsay followed his father as a north riding councillor. He served nineteen years, from 1887 until his death in March 1908. He was President four times. Jimmy Lindsay was one of the most popular men in the south-west of Victoria. He was a fine sportsman: horse breeder, owner and a dashing amateur rider. He lived lavishly and played hard. For many years he guarded a herd of kangaroos, as many as 100 head, at Quamby. Descendants of the Lindsay kangaroos are still in the district. James Lindsay’s wife, Margaret Esther was a daughter of Samuel Shaw Parker, the first engineer of the Shire. Nell Lindsay, a daughter, lives in the Bluestone Quamby homestead. Only a little more than 60 acres of the original run still belongs to the property. William Lindsay junior succeeded his brother as a Shire councillor. He served for 25 years from 1908 until his death in 1934. So, the Lindsays, father and two sons, served as Shite councillors for an unbroken period of sixth-five years. William Lindsay junior had a life-long interest in horse racing, as breeder, owner and enthusiastic amateur steeplechase rider. He was elected a member of the Warrnambool racing club in 1901 and was president of the club for thirty-two years. He raced and rode horses for the love of the sport. He won the Villiers and Heytesbury Hunt Cup in the 1870s on his own horse, Ventura. In the year he died his horse Flavedo won the Warrnambool Grand Annual steeplechase. It was a sensational race. All of the contestants fell or lost their riders. When Flavedo baulked at a jump, its jockey R. Sweetman, remounted and completed the course to win the race. All of the Lindsays were passionately fond of the thoroughbred horse. Nell Lindsay talking to the author in the drawing-room of Quamby homestead - with many memories for her of its lavish years – said of a brother that he was put on a horse when he was two years old and never got off. William Lindsay junior made Union into a fine, high-producing property, breeding cattle and horses. He added to the bluestone house that David Kennedy started, established plantations of pines and gums, and made an attractive garden. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first meeting room in November 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 Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former 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 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much-loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the 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, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. THE PATTISON COLLECTION This book is also 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 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 Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Matthews is now considered a rare and valuable scientific and historic work on its own. These 12 volumes were donated in 1934 to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and were included as part of the Pattison Collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The Birds of Australia Vol 1 Author: Gregory M Mathews Publisher: Witherby & Co, 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON Date: 1910-1911 Tan, leather bound illustrated workLabel on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2994 MAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute that reads Presented by W Lindsay Esq, “Union”, Woolsthorpe. Accession Number 15232 Date Received: 3-34 “W. Lindsay” embossed in gold on front cover, bottom right of bookflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gregory m. matthews, witherby & co., h.f. & g. witherby, w lindsay, william lindsay, pattison collection, the birds of australia vol 1, union station, woolsthrope, quamby station, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library