This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities, are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council his huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower areas of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave from 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However, he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Pattison. Eventually, the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. Hard Times and Pictures From Italy Author: Charles Dickens Publisher: Chapman & Hall Ltd Date: First Published 1866 The label on the spine cover with typed text PAT 823.8 DIC Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service. Front loose end paper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service. flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, hard times and pictures from italy, charles dickens

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Memorable: The Bridgewater Memorial Hall, circa early 1900s. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Envelope to J Badham 4.6.42. Small paper front of envelope stamp removed - from Town Clerk , Town Hall Bendigo.document, memo, railway, envelope to j badham 4.6.42 /- from town clerk , town hall bendigo

POSTCARD BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO -Town hall , Post Office & Court House Maryborough / H. Harstedt , Maryborough . Printed in Germanypostcard, photograph, various themes, -town hall , post office & court house maryborough / h. harstedt , maryborough . printed in germany

black and white image:St Paul's Cathedral, hall, and Manse. brick church, four storey bell tower, brick building alongside.bendigo, church, st. paul's church, bendigo, st. paul's, church

Photograph, Eleven Men with Musical Instruments, H.Vanheems, Bowral on side.Purchased from S.Hall, C.D.G.M., Bendigo, July 1980. A.W.A. Hall.photograph

Programme for Annual Distribution of Prizes; Girton (Church of England Girls' Grammar School) Held at the A.N. A. Hall, 12th December, 1924organization, education, girton

Invitation to a ball at the Bendigo Town Hall 29/6/1926. Issued to Miss Smitth. Hosted by the Mayor Cr and Mrs. Ewing.

Postcard with photo of Prahran Town Hall. Rear addressed to Dear Ida, Dunraven Epsom Rd. Ascot Vale.Surname of recipient obliterated.

Colour photos taken by Paul Shire. Excelsior Hall interior images prior to its adaptation as housing Ladies sitting roombuilt environment - civic, excelsior hall, rsl, returned services league

Made from neg by O'Flaherty's for use in 2000 calendar. This photo also used on heritage postcards 1999)Digital print of Stokes Street 1989, showing original Masonic Hall, Sandridge Hotel (Freemasons Tavern), Rotunda and Swallow and Ariell.hotels, built environment, societies clubs unions and other organisations, industry - food, swallow & ariell ltd, band rotunda, freemasons hall, sandridge hotel, stokes street

Photograph of the Port Melbourne Town Hall clocktower taken from below, looking between trees. Street light at bottom centreport melbourne town hall, built environment - civic

The first official dance was held on April 23 1918, two years after the establishment of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. The celebration depicted may have been a New Years Eve function. New Year's Eve celebrations were a very popular event through to the 1990s. Dances were popular social events for the Ithacan community and an opportunity for Ithacans to socialise and enjoy Greek music and dancing. A mounted sepia photograph of a crowd of people gathered for a celebration in a dance hall which has balloons hanging from the decorative ceiling.

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 1999. Times have changed: the old Bendigo Town Hall. Circa 1861.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 1999. Unveiling: the first statuary in Bendigo near the Town Hall and Law Courts.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 1999. Historic view: lloking out from the City Hall early this century.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Document. Invitation to a Ball at the Town Hall, Bendigo. Invitation to Mr A. Hamilton from the Mayor and Mrs J.H.Curnow, June 30 1903.performing arts, elocution, ball invitation

Document. Bi-fold concert program for the Bendigo Musical Society. Masonic Hall, Bendigo. November 1902. Program printed inside.performing arts, elocution, concert program

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Saturday, September 20, 2003. Glimpse back in time: the Derby Hall, 1995.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Photograph of Edward Street from the Trades Hall, Brisbane. It shows the cityscape with the rolling hills in the background. The caption is written underneath the photoplace, streetscape, edward styreet brisbane, edward street, brisbane

Painted "en plein air", as seen by the artist, recording things as they were in 1959. Painted by Victor Litherland who arrived in Creswick in 1938. He became a noted artist represented in major collections. He painted in the naive style and recorded his history of the town.Gouache painting on paper of the old Creswick Fire Station and Town Hall (now the home of the Creswick Museum), done in naive style.signed "Victor Litherland" and dated 1959victor litherland, creswick, naive, gouache, town hall, fire station, 1959

Uncompleted certificate issued by the City of St Kilda to acknowledge with thanks service voluntarily given to the war effort during World War II.Cream coloured card printed in black, with green and brown borders and a drawing of St Kilda Town Hall. Red seal affixed.world war ii, wwii, city of st kilda, civil defence service