Thomas S. Hart was a teacher at the Ballarat School of Mines, and a member of the Ballarat Field Naturalists ClubArticle with illustrations published by the Royal Society of Victoria by Thomas S. Hart. The following plates are included: Fig 1. The Main Divide and some of the transverse ridges Fig 2. Hills on and near the Divide at the Ercildoun and Ascot Gaps Fig. 3. Profile of the Divide at Ascot Gap. Fig. 4. Sketch of the Hills west and north-west from Mt Buninyong - - The divide in Ascot Gap from Mt Blowhard (Serra Range, Mt William, Mt Ararat, Larne Gerin, Ben Major, Mt Cole, Mt Misery, Mt Bolton) Fig. 5. Diagram to illustrate the possible courses of the leads south of the present Divide - Burrumbeet Basin (Smythesdale, Ballarat, Lal Lal , Mt Doran, egerton, Parwan Creet, Rowsley Fault, Eastern Plateau) Fig. 6. Diagramatic cross section of the grampians, south of Hall's Gap. Profile of the Pyranees, from maiden Hill - Diagramatic Section of the Grampians south of Hall's Gap. (Mt Cole, Mt Mitchell, Ben Major, Ben More, Avoca Hill, Hall's Gap.) Fig. 7. Profile of the Pyrenees as seen from Maiden Hill near Waubra.thomas hart, thomas s. hart, ballarat school of mines, ballarat field naturalists club, royal society of victoria, western victoria, ballarat, great dividing range, mt william, volcano, volcanic plains, waterways, lal lal basin, yarrowee creek, ballarat common, lava flow, wendouree, warrenheip, ballarat plateau, mt elephant, grampians, t.s. hart, mt buangor, mt beckworth, mt misery, mt bolton, lal lal iron ored, mt ararat, mt wiliam, mt cole, burrumbeet, mt warrenheip, daylesford, waubra, ercildoun gap, smythesdale, lal lal falls, parwan valley, burrumbeet creek, staffordshire reef, pyranees, bacchus marsh, rowsley fault, ben nevis, avoca hill, landsborough hill, mt blowhard, weatherboard, mclean's hill, fyan's creek, thomas stephen hart, lal lal

Surveyed by Robert Allan under the direction of the Secretary of Mines.Rectangular plan showing placement of mines in 1889. Mines include Hick's and Gilpin's lease, Comstock, Melbourne Company, Victoria United, Speedwell Company, New Normanby, Pasha Surprise, Central Sulieman, West Llanberris, Britannia United, Victoria Unites, Clinton's, Orient Company, North Sulieman, Sulieman Extended, Pasha Surprise, Golden Fountain, Prince regent, Clark and Company, Tinworth, North Woah Hawp, Detering, R.A. Thompson, Dazelles and buchanan, Barnett, Braybrook, Ladt Cornwall, Hanthorne, Dalzelles and gay, Southern Cross, M. Acheson, Cricket Reserveballarat east, mines, mining, underground survey, robert allan, chinese, ah chong, ah young, bakery hill, black hill, black hill lead, bakery hill lead, cricket, pennyweight hill, gravel pitts lead, golden point lead, navy jack's lead, mopoke lead, eureka lead, association lead, warrenheip lead, cgt, plans

This unusual wall decoration was created by Anna Wilson (nee Henry), daughter of pioneer John Stephenson Henry, who arrived in Australia from Ireland with his children in 1851. Family documents confirm that Anna most probably made the diorama for her sister-in-law, who married a member of the Giles family. The diorama was later given to Vera Giles who was a family friend and possibly related to Anna’s sister-in-law by marriage. The diorama is now part of the Giles Collection. Anna married William Wilson in 1860, who had arrived in Australia from County Tarrane in about 1850, aged 19. In 1869 they moved to their new property called ‘Glenlyall’ in Cooramook, north of Grassmere, Victoria, where he lived for 49 years until his death in 1918. He left behind a family of four sons and a daughter. The Giles Family There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the “Giles Collection”. These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera’s parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor’s Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as family legend has it, she became a governess at “Injemiara” where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The family of the creator Anna Wilson nee Henry and her husband William Wilson are of significance to the early history of Victoria and the South West of Victoria in particular, being pioneer families who farmed the land, built the towns and cities and contributed to their communities. The Giles family collection has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Museum was established. Wall decoration, diorama with decorative gild frame and glass front. The 3-dimensional seascape includes sailing boats, land and sea, all made from materials such as shells, coral and seaweed. The work was made by Anna Wilson. It is part of the Giles Collection.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, cooramook, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods, 19th century decor, 19th century handcraft, handcraft, wall hanging, diorama of a seascape

This strong, heavy bank safe was made by W. Marr in London. It was formerly owned by the ANZ Bank in Portland, Victoria. Portland’s ANZ Bank was originally a branch of the Bank of Australasia, which first came to Australia in 1835, opening in Sydney. Portland’s Bank of Australasia began in a bluestone building built on the north corner of Julia and Bentinck Streets by stonemason William Robb in 1855, around the time of Australia’s Gold Rush. Eventually, in 1951, the Bank of Australasia merged with the Union Bank to become the Australia & New Zealand Bank, known as the ANZ. Portland’s branch of the Bank of Australasia then moved into the old Union Bank building at 44 Percy Streets; both bank buildings were built around the same. The maker of this safe, W. (William) Marr, obtained a patent in 1834 for what is believed to be the first fire-retarding patent, building this into the lining of strong boxes. Others made further design improvements such as hardening the metal plates used to make the boxes. In about 1840 Thomas Milner, a Sheffield tinsmith, made the earliest safes that could safely protect their contents from a surrounding fire. This was achieved by including tubes of a substance between the inner and outer walls of the safe that would react to the heat and the contents would put the fire out. In 1851 an Exhibition at London’s Crystal Palace included fire-proof safes from different vendors. William Marr was listed under Fireproof Box Makers in the 1842 London Trades Directory, at 33 Broad Street, and 52 Cheapside. William Marr & Son were appointed to supply Her Majesty’s National Debt Office and other departments in 1860, with the address 9 Walbrook, Vulcan Safe Works, Skin Yard, Bankside, Southwark, London. 1n 1870 the address for William Marr listed under Safe Makers and Agents in the London Trades Directory was 67 Cannon Street. The manufacturer, W Marr, is significant as an inventor of a way to make a strong box fireproof, then patented his secure safe. This invention indicates that security of money was of great importance in the mid-1800s as it continues to be today. The secure safe would have given much comfort to those with investments and savings, as well as to the bank itself, the custodian of other people's money. This safe was made in London and exported to colonial Australia, giving significance to the safe as an item that was high in the list of the needs of the early Australians and their businesses. The safe has local historical significance as it was used by the original Bank of Australasia in Portland, which was built in 1855 and went on to become the ANZ Bank, still in operation today. The bank was an integral part of the establishment and growth of commerce in Colonial Victoria.Safe; heavy metal bank safe, painted green. Double doors each have top and bottom external hinges, and two front panels; the top panels are arched. The thick doors have five sliding locks. Inside is a fixed metal compartment with a locked sliding metal drawer, and several fitted shelves plus some temporary removable shelving. Both doors have a decorative brass knob near the centre opening. Left door has an oval artificial keyhole and a space where another fitting has been attached. The right door has a second brass knob and an oval keyhole. The top panels of the left door has an oval plaque with an inscription; the right door has evidence that there was an oval attachment. Made by W. Marr, London.Text embossed on plaque: "W. MARR / PATENTEE & MANUFACTURER / 52 / /CHEAPSIDE / LONDON" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, maritime museum, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, safe, bank safe, vault, security, finances, anz bank, portland bank, w marr, william w marr, financial institution, savings, gold exchange, loans, investments, safety, safe maker, lock maker, iron box, strong-room

This compass is the type used by an artillery unit of the Australian Military Forces during World War 2 and made by J W Handley. Although having owned the factory site since 1935 at 657 Victoria St J W Handley began to produce various items for the Australian Military forces after purchasing and expanding the factory to 655 Victoria St. It appears that he, or some one else may already have been occupying the site for industrial purposes, such as (Manufacturing, Foundry and Electroplating) since at least 1929. J W Handley Pty Ltd was actively producing items for the Military during the war years, a newspaper article from 1939 shows the factory in production and employing 420 people during 1939. J W Handley after the war moved into producing other non military items including a range of fishing reels. The company ceased trading in 1987 and was deregistered as J W Handley Pty Ltd in 1990.The item demonstrates the industrial capability of Australia at the start of World War 2, this item is actively sort by collectors of Australian Military memorabilia and represents a time in Australian history when the country was at war and the general population was concerned about an invasion from Japanese forces. It also therefor is of social significance as many Australians served in the Military forces at that time and the item is complete and in very good condition.A plane table compass, sometimes referred to as a trough compass, used by surveyors and artillery crew to accurately establish magnetic north. The compass is precision machined of brass material with a long needle to ensure accuracy. The compass scale is marked with a centre zero (for magnetic north) and graduations indicating plus and minus five degrees. The compass is housed in a protective wooden case with a sliding lid. The lid has a brass slide which locks the compass needle during periods when the compass is not in use.J.W.H./V Mark 11 D�D. Made by J W Handley Richmond Melbourne, Victoria. Serial number 1333 on boxflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, trough compass, navigation instrument, surveyor's instrument, j w handley, artillery, australian army, trough, plane compass, world war 2

This watercolour painting depicts a scene at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, showing some of the buildings and one of the vessels in the lake. The artist, Alfred A. Perry, lived in Victoria at the time of creating this painting. This painting is significant for its association with Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. It shows a point in time, September 22nd, 1979, at which time the Ship's Chandler store was on the north of the lake. In 2022 the Ship's Chandler' is on the south of the lake and has been there for many years..Painting behind glass, framed in wood, black outline with watercolour. Depicting a scene of vessel at anchor on water, crane on wharf, buildings on track, valley and hills in background. Location is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Artist is Alf Perry, painting dated 22-9-79.Signed "Alf Perry / 22-9-79" Handwritten on reverse "Alfred. A. Perry / 31 Vera St. / Bulleen / 850-3367"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, alf perry, watercolour, alfred perry, alfred a perry, flagstaff hill history, 1979, flagstaff hill village

Thirty six page foolscap booklet with some black and white photographic image. It includs statistics relating to the mining industry. Images include Limestone Quarry at Cave Hill, Lilydale; Golden Retriever nuggett; The Wedderburn Dog nuggett; Moning Star Mine, Wood's Point; shallow drilling; penicillin tanks; Mines Department Laboratory; Charging; Aurora Mine, Daylesford; Hattietville Dredge; North Deborah Mine, Bendigo; Central Victorian Dredge, Strangwaysj.g. gouley, mining, coal, gold, silver, geology, boiler inspection, leasing, gold buyers act, lilydale, fireclay, harrietville dredge, aurora mine daylesford, williams reward mine daylesford, strangways dredge, north deborah mine bendigo, statistics, bendigo mine, department of mines victoria, annual report, statistics relating to mining industry

Articles include: Concentrating difficult silver-lead ores, Estimation of chlorine, bromine and iodine (by D.Runting. Summaries and notes from the technical journals, Notes upon the use and care of platinum ware, Common sense, The machinery at the Tasmania gold mine, Beacons-Field, Tasmanina, Mining at Walhalla - The long tunnel mine, Past students, Mapping out of agricultural areas &c., in dense vine lands, North Queensland (by R. A. Suter. Licensed surveyor, Queensland and Victoria), News and notes, Concert balance sheet, Editorial notices.Soft covered magazine of 16 pages. silver-lead ores, estimation of chlorine, bromine and iodine (by d.runting), platinum ware, tasmania gold mine, beaconsfield, tasmania, mining at walhalla, long tunnel mine, vine lands, north queensland, r. a. suter, photography class, boer war, alumni, thomas vincent, basil sawyer, o. e. jager, a. s. burdekin, t. phillipson, glen macpherson, tom uthwatt, marcus marks, r. j. allen, cecil eales, cecil wakley, adam morton, e.p. lewers, harry leggo, jack hill, berk, nickolls, h. burrows, percy osborne, j. brangan, chris evans, adamson, alford, r. evans, arthur "thomas" atkins, charles campbell, hardy, a. basil reid, h. l. krause, k. grant, m. gray, a.b. reid, h. alston, playford, j. a. reid, s. b. vial, f. a. marriott, f. lush, c. whyte, karl moore, r. robin, w. j. lakeland, e. trend, h. l. giles, r. mccracken, k. bryron moore

At the bottom of the 2nd page, there is text that reads "Geologically and topographically surveyed in 1909 by W.H. Ferguson, Assistant Field Geologist. Published 1940."Rectangular geological map edged in masking tape showing Steiglitz, Victoria. Scale 48 chains to 4 inches.steiglitz, geology, geological map, north albion, moreep, mining, mine, caribald reef, durdidwarrah, gilbraltar hill, mount pleasant gully, township of steiglitz, w.h. ferguson, garibaldi reef, yankee gully, kinglock mine engine shaft, herbert werner frederick de nully, albion gully, virago reef, mulrooney's reef

Blue soft covered report with 40 plates and plans. Inciudes Geology of Ballarat. Little Bendigo Goldfield, Ballarat West Goldfield, Ballarat East Goldfield, history, nuggets, indicators, faults, microscopic structure of Ballarat Rocks and ores, general type of the Ballarat East Mines and the genesis of their ores. Mines include New Zealand Trust, Llanberris No. 1, Llanberris No 2, Victoria United, Britannia United, New Britannia, Last Chance, Exchange, Normanby North, New Normanby, North Woah Hawp. Photpgraphic plates include: Victoria United Mine, Llanberres No. 1, Normanby North, North Woah Hawp Mine, View looking south from the Britannia Mullock Heap, View from Sovereign Hill, The place in Learmonth Street Golden Point where gold was first discovered at Ballarat. j.w. gregory, ballarat east, ballarat east goldfield, e.j. dunn, geolological survey of victoria, new zealand trust, llanberris no. 1, llanberris no 2, victoria united, britannia united, new britannia, last chance, exchange, normanby north, new normanby, north woah hawp, mining, indicators, gold mining, poppet head

Blue hard covered book of 494 pages. Images, and a large plan of prominent burials in the Melbourne Old Cemetery, and a Map of Melbourne. melbourne, melbourne cemetery, melbourne old cemetery, john batman, edmund hobson, batman's map, st francis' church, james balfour, mrs hornbrook, paddy's market, wilson hall, working men's college, henry kendall, le souef's cottage, world war one, westernport, melbourne cup, hoddle, collingwood, south melbourne, prahran, richmond, kew, brunswick, coburg, preston, hawthorn, camberwell, nunawading, doncaster, st kilda, brighton, sandringham, cheltenham, caulfield, oalkleigh, footscray, sunshine, north melbourne, carlton, ballarat school of art library, ballarat technical art school, book plate, library plate, hume and hovell's overland journey 1824-5, major mtichell's overland journey, australia felix, booplate, aborigine, aboriginal, captain cook, arthur phillip, isaac smith, george bass, matthew flinders, john murray, catain baudain, captain collins, edward henty, portalnd, map od melbourne in 1938, john pascoe fawkner, the "enterprise: and fawkner's first home, old colonists' homes, rushall crescent north fitszroy, richard bourke, the old melbourne post offfice, old governmnt house, toorak, latrobe's house at jolimont, first melbourne land sale, melbourne water supply, peter henry smith, victorian legislative council opening, map of melbourne and collingwood, prince's bridge, crossing the rivers by punt, f.a> rucker, canvas city emerald hill, arrival of the gold escort in melbourne, the yarra, queen's wharf, tall ships, old st james, mary e. budd, st francis church, michael carr, meolbourne city mission, state library of victoria, melbourne public library, bourke street, angus mcmilan, methodist ladies college, ormond college, armistance celebrations, robert russell, mia mia, theatre royal bouke st, melbourne from flaggstaff hill, federal coffee palace collins st, lord melbourne, melbourne mint, old melbourne town hall, robert russell's melbourne and yarra falls, mandevalle hall, point lansdale lighthouse, wilson's promontory, margaret m. ward cole, williamstown, flinders st melbourne, queenscliff battery, broadmeadows soldiers' camp, embarkation of first troops on the 'ceramic', general monsash, ian hamilton, general bridges, victorian war memorial, national war memorial, st kilda pier, first melbourne cup, hoddle's grid, albert park, melbourne mechanic's institute, st kilda toll gate, munted policeman, springthorpe memorial, james bonwick, mornane's paddock, victorian railways melbourne and surburban lines, carlton gardens, thomas napier, wiliam westgarth, george augustus robinson, william lonsdale, elizabeth mary batman, peomena frances darling batman, dig tree, exhibition of 1854, exhibition of 1866, exhibition buildings, geelong harbour, jubilee lake, port campbell, warrnambool, queenscliff lightboat, batman's first house

5616b Double foolscap size photocopy of survey map with handwritten notations. References include Corr no. C.93151, Railway Reserve, Station Street, Bedford Road, multiple post & wire fences, multiple galv iron pipes put in, Government Road (Hill Street), Tooronga Road, multiple recent pegs found, Certification 52710 by J. Fitzgerald Licensed Surveyor 17/3/1952.

Geological description of the eastern and southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Dandenong Ranges, Harkaway Hills and the Silvan and Macclesfield districts.

``Newspaper clipping from "The Post" 29-6-94 P 3 Mini buses comingNew mini buses will make their debut on Ringwood streets in August after Ringwood Council approved a proposal from the National Bus Company (NBC) last week. From August new 26 seaterMercedes Benz mini buses will run on most present NBC routes with new services from Ringwood to Box Hill, Warrandyte to Ringwood and Ringwood to Doncaster Shoppingtown.`

Digitised video (2.42GB). Duration: 55 minutes. Recorded March, 2024 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)This month's Guest Presenter - Greg Hill, is recognised as the leading authority on both Australian Colonial Pottery and Australian Art Pottery. His interest in Australian pottery goes back to the early 1960s. He has been an avid collector of Australian pottery for many decades and has researched many key producers, particularly in Victoria. Greg has also assisted RDHS to evaluate the ceramic tiles featured at the front of Ringwood's historic Blood Bros. Store.

Certification Arthur James Bromwich Aird is a regular Royal Arch Mason admitted to Box Hill Chapter No.51 on 30th June AL 5936. Certificate signed and seal imprinted on 3rd August, 1936.

Certification Arthur James B. Aird admitted to the Degree of Most Excellent Master by the Box Hill Chapter, No. 51 meeting at Box Hill, Victoria. Enrolled, recorded, signed and Seal affixed at Melbourne on 31st July, 1937.

``Newspaper clipping from the "Post", Tuesday March 18 1997, Page 1. By John Cooke - MIX OF OLD WITH NEWA recount of votes in Loughnan's Hill Ward failed to overturn the result in the most hotly contested ward of last weekend's first Maroondah Council elections.Despite attracting only 1014 first preference votes - fourth highest - Joe Cossari went on to win Loughnan's Hill by 247 votes from former Ringwood councillor Yvonne Kaukas after preference votes recorded by six other candidates were distributed.`

Clearance certificate - Allan Aubrey Williams, Master Mason, ceased to be a member of United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Victoria and is clear of all dues. Dated at North Carlton on 21 February, 1928.

``Newspaper clipping from "The Mail", 10-10-95, P 3. Bushlinks Community conservation group Maroondah Bushlinks staged a "plant rescue" on Sunday at Barnsdale Forest on Loughnan's Hill. Certain trees were removed and transplanted to Loughies Bushland and others will be taken to local community nurseries`

Black and white photograph in cream coloured folder with handwritten inscription - Winifred A. McCook Circa 1960. Miss McCook, resident of Box Hill, was the first and only female Solicitor in Ringwood for many years, practicing from her office at 173 Whitehorse Road until her retirement.

Newspaper Clipping from the ""Mail", 16-3-1993", P18, "New post""Jenny Wegener" became a chaplain to "work out in the world" and in her position at Norwood Secondary College, she will do just that. Jenny has been in the ministry for 15 years, working at the Peter Macallum and Box Hill hospitals. Jenny began at Norwood in late January.

Digitised video (1.97GB). Duration: 46 minutes. Recorded August, 2019 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Helen Doxford Harris is a professional genealogist and historian of more than thirty years standing. Her interest in history was first developed when she commenced researching her family history. She has written many texts on various subjects relating to Victoria Police, the Indigenous and women’s fields of study. Helen is also current Secretary of Box Hill Historical Society. In this presentation, Helen presents a great talk on Women in Politics, highlighting the difficulty in achieving equality in representation on the political stage.

Digitised video (6.64GB). Duration: 82 minutes. Recorded September, 2017 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Dr Gary Presland is a long-standing member of the Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria, as well as a number of local historical societies, including Box Hill where he serves as President.

128 p. : ill.non-fictionvictoria, history

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. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860s the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much - loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. 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. Charles Kingsley: His Letters and Memories of His Life Vol 1 Author: Charles Kingsley Edited by his wife ( Frances "Fanny" Grenfell) Publisher: C Kegan Paul & Co Date: 1879 Further Information: Sixth Abridged EditionThe label on the spine cover with typed text PAT 920 KIN. Pastedown frontend paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service. Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service. Flyleaf has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, 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, charles kingsley: his letters and memories of his life vol 1, frances "fanny" grenfell, mrs kingsley