Book was given to Mr Robert 'Bob' Edward Mitchell in 1938. Mr Mitchell trained as a wool classer in the 1930's and was awarded this book as the senior prize. Mr. Mitchell grew up on the Moorabinda sheep property and is on the honour roll as a past student who served in World War II from Wharparilla West State School.Large black bound book containing 12 double-sided pages, each with several wool samples mounted to a blue paper with the name of sheep breed which the wool came from. Each page also has a loose sheet of wax paper over the wool. Book can be closed and secured with a length of black material which can be tied up.

This bandolier was made in 1967 for Australian military use. It has pouches for 5 round stripper clips of 7.62mm ammunition. Bandolier as worn by Australian personnel serving in the Vietnam War.Jungle green five pocket AUST MK1 ammunition bandolier. The pockets are designed to hold 7.62 mm ammunition. There are six painted brass snap fasteners to secure the closing flap over the pockets. Stamped on the back is 'AUST/MK1 VQ V 5/67'. The bandolier is secured around the wearer via a self-fabric strap with a double brass ring fastening.AUST/MK1/CH/N/12/67bandolier, belt, vietnam, beechworth, ammunition

A very damaged antique brown and black covered introduction to singing music book. The title page is missing. The spine has four double gold bands with the title printed in gold lettering. It has 319 songs or hymns included as well as Preliminary remarks addressed to learners, musical characters, intervals, time, diatonic scale, major and minor modes or keys and transposition.non-fictionAn introduction to singing prepared with a view to assist those who wish to acquire a sufficient knowledge of the science to sing the praises of God correctly; and also to encourage the cultivation of vocal music in schools. It is of use for beginners.music books, singing books, singing

Double-sided page advertising auction of 11 allotments on Saturday, 6th July, 1974, with locality map and plan of subdivision in Carruthers Court and Bellbird Court, Heathmont. $950 deposit, 3 year vendor terms, 10% discount for cash 60 days. Handwritten notation indicating Lot 22 "sold for $127,000 - all other lots passed in around $11,000".Auctioneers - Bill Gelfand Pty. Ltd., R.E.S.I. 71 Kooyong Road, Caulfield North, Phone 5090211 A.H. 523050.

Cuts to the Health Dollar, its effects on Nursing Services provided by the Eaglehawk and Long Gully Community Health Centre. Research project submission by: Diane M. Francis, Bachelor of Health Services (Nursing Studies) Dated: submission date 28 September 1992 Paper report double punched tied with string 39 page report plus introduction and 32 page appendicesDiane M. Francismedical, eaglehawk and long gully comm.ctr.

Black and white image of a crowd of men, women and children plus a motor vehicle, motorcycle and bicycle outside buildings in Sussex Street, Linton. The car has been decorated with streamers. This photograph was taken during Linton's centenary celebrations in 1939. The double storey building on the left is Criterion House. The upper level of this building was used as a hospital. The Building on the right is Grenville Shire Offices.centenaries, centenary celebrations, hospitals, motorcycles, cars, bicycles

Initially named Lansells Little 180 Mine was part of the Victoria Hill mining area. It was operated by George Lansell until his death in 1906 but continued operation by his estate until 1927 when it was sold. The mine closed in the early 1930's.black And white photo - 2 adult males in foreground, 1 wearing hat, waiscoat, 1 wearing hat, 3 piece suit. Corrugated iron building behind men with double wooden doors, wooden shutters as windows, large wooden reel ( for cable ) at right. Saw horse at left foreground. On back ' Mine Manager/Little 180 Bendigo/1920.'cottage, miners

sepia photograph of adult female holding baby, small girl at her right. Group is standing at gateway to double fronted weatherboard cottage. Youngster wearing pinafore over dark dress. Picket fence and gate, brick chimney at left of cottage. Wall Bros. printed in script, photographers, Melbourne and Bendigo printed in lower case and capitals at bottom front of card.Wall Bros., Melbourne and Bendigoperson, family, casual

Pamphlet - full colour folded A3 sheet, titled "Sprit and Pride", introducing new logos and colour schemes for the Public Transport Corporation June 1992. Was contained within the 4 June 1992 issue of Changing times. Shows the application of the colour schemes for The Met, VLine, suburban trains, double deck train, VLine carriages, trams, cars, stations, buses and coachestrams, tramways, logos, colour schemes, livery, the met, ptc, vline, tramcars

Newspaper titled: "Art takes a ride" By Geoffrey Wright The Sun, Friday June 30 1978 Mirka Mora – double page centre-spread Photos by Geoff Bull 6 trams to be painted by artists Mirka Mora, Andrew Southall, Mike Brown, Clifton Pugh, Les Kossatz and Sandra Leveson. Preston tramways paint depot. Newspaper, folded, worn edgestrams, tramways, transporting art, decorated trams, tram 234

Report - one quarto sheet and two double foolscap - carbon copies of a report titled "Tracks at Tram Termini", dated 14/12/1959 listing the track arrangements at each terminus, length, whether ballasted or concreted, estimated remaining life and value. Prepared by the Chief Engineer for the Chairman. Includes some of the Footscray lines, but not West Maribyrnong, Essendon Airport or Point Ormondtrams, tramways, terminus, trackwork, maintenance

Australian Electric Traction Association (AETA) Calendar for 1993, featuring a photograph of the "The Met" doubled deck four car train passing through Hawthorn Station, c1992. Photo by Michael Schrader. Gives contact details for the AETA divisions. Stapled to the sheet is a 12 sheet preprinted calendar for 1993 with various details of holidays etc. Has the contact details for the AETA on the front.trams, tramways, hawthorn, the met, railways

Laminated drawing of entrance hall to Fortuna Villa. Drawing is hand coloured and depicts stone building, entrance steps leading to double glass doors with side lights beside and above doors. Turret on top of building. On bottom of drawing is written 'Elevation' on top of plan Proposed Entrance Hall Fortuna Villa for G. Lansell Esq. Signed by W. Beebe, Architect.bendigo, buildings, fortuna villa

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer Bev Baxter. From Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan by Andrew Ward (1996) Vol 2 p63: The inclusion of shops in Murrumbeena Road and a common parkland developed at the rear of the properties were complemented by the construction of a gas display home at No. 10 Beauville Avenue.City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of cream rendered house with decorative unpainted brown brick features. Other features include a porch with two decorative open arches, tiled roof, 2 sets of matching double sashed windows with large square pane within each set, agapanthus lining the brick paved driveway and a cast iron work metal letterbox with number "10" on it. murrumbeena, houses, beauville avenue, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, brick houses, beauville estate, porches, arches, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, gardens, beauville historic area, brick features, sash windows, paved drives, cast iron work, letter boxes, gas display houses

Letter dated 7th May 2002 to Councillor Willi Carney from George Ellis, Long Gully History Group requesting the council to consider the site in their original application for the marker to acknowledge the achievement of underground mining Linear Park Long Gully. The allocated site is unsuitable as the ground is unstable and work to stabilise the ground to stop it from tipping could double the cost.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - letters from the long gully history group, councillor willi carney, city of greater bendigo, george ellis

Monochrome portrait photograph of a man. He has a beard and bushy eye brows and sits with his face slightly in profile. He wears and double breasted jacket with a bow tie. His portrait is placed in an oval framed mount board which is in a rectangular wooden frame. The frame is painted dark brown but has a border of flowers and foliage picked out in gold colour.official portrait photography, civic portrait, mayor, portland mayor, 1800s

Black and white photograph showing two wooden jetties on lake one leading to Baang Yarnda floating guest house Lakes Entrance Victoria. Also two black and white photographs taken from same location looking toward the Esplanade 04998.1 shows a car and petrol bowser in front of Broomes Federal. 04998.2 shows Broomes Federal Guesthouse with double facade.guesthouses, roads and streets, waterfront

This bank cheque originated from the Bank of Australasia, Melbourne branch. It was issued on 3rd December 1885 to a person surnamed Slater for £71.11.5 (seventy-one pounds, eleven shillings and five pence). The parallel lines are called Cheque Crossed and mean that only Slater and no one else could receive the payment and that it would have been paid into Slater's bank account, not exchanged for cash. The embossed dots signify that the cheque amount was also paid to be the bearer of the cheque. Slater would have visited the bank to deposit the money into his or her own account. The cheque was printed by Sands & McDougall, a long-standing Melbourne printing and stationery company. It was then Stamped at the bank with its own unique number before it was issued to the customer. From its previously perforated edges, it is presumed that the cheque was part of a page of cheques, likely to be contained within a book of similar cheques ready for use. The Bank of Australia was incorporated by Royal Charter of England in March 1834. It had its Australian beginnings on 14th December 1835, opening in Sydney. The Acting Superintendent of the bank at that time was David Charters McArthur. He was Superintendent from 1867-to 1876. The Melbourne branch opened on 28th August 1838 in a two-roomed brick cottage on the north side of Little Collins Street, where two huge mastiff dogs were used at night to guard the bank. The government also provided an armed military sentinel. Due to the bank's rapid growth, a new building for the Melbourne branch was opened in 1840 at 75 Collins Street West. By 1879 the bank had been upgraded to a magnificent two-storey building on the corners of Collins and Queens Streets, with the entry on Collins Street. In 1951 the Bank of Australasia amalgamated with the Union Bank to form the Australia and New Zealand Bank, now known as the ANZ. Then in 1970, the ANZ merged with both the ES&A and the London Bank of Australia to form the ANZ Banking Group Limited. The ANZ Banking Group Ltd kindly donated a variety of historic items from the Bank of Australasia. BANK of AUSTRALASIA, WARRNAMBOOL – In 1854 Warrnambool had two banks, the Union Bank and the Bank of Australasia. Later, completely different bank businesses opened; in 1867 the National Bank of Australasia, then in 1875 the Colonial Bank of Australasia. The original Warrnambool branch of the Bank of Australasia was established in July 1854, and operated from a leased cottage on Merri Street, close to Liebig Street. The bank next bought a stone building previously erected by drapers Cramond & Dickson on the corner of Timor and Gibson Streets. Samuel Hannaford was a teller and then Manager at the Warrnambool branch from 1855 to 1856 and the Warrnambool Council chose that bank for its dealings during 1856-57. In 1859 Roberts & Co. was awarded the contract to build the new Bank of Australasia branch for the sum of £3,000. The land was on a sand hill on the northeast corner of Timor and Kepler Streets and had been bought in 1855 from investor James Cust. The new building opened on May 21, 1860. The bank continued to operate there until 1951 when it merged with the Union Bank to form the ANZ Bank, which continued operating from its Liebig Street building. Warrnambool City Council purchased the former Bank of Australasia building in 1971 and renovated it, then on 3rd December 1973 it was officially opened as the Art Gallery by Cr. Harold Stephenson and Gallery Director John Welsh. The Gallery transferred to the purpose-built building in Liebig Street in 1986 and the old bank building is now the Gallery club. Staff at the Bank of Australasia in Warrnambool included the following men but others were also involved: Samuel Hannaford, Teller then Manager from 1855-1856; W H Palmer, Manager from January 1857 until November 1869 when the Teller Basil Spence was promoted to Manager; H B Chomley, Manager from April 1873 and still there in 1886; A Butt, Manager in 1895-1904; J R McCleary Accountant and Acting Manager for 12 months, until 1900; A Kirk, Manager 1904; J Moore, staff until his transfer to Bendigo in December 1908; J S Bath was Manager until 1915; C C Cox, Manager until April 1923; Richard C Stanley, Manager 1923 to April 1928. The bank cheque has significance through its association with the Bank of Australasia. The early Australian bank was established in 1834 by Royal Charter and opened in Sydney, Australia, in Sydney in 1835. The bank had many Australian offices in November 1877, particularly on the east and south coasts. Victoria had 45 percent of all Offices. The bank cheque is significant as an early example of financial management of money and money exchange or transfer.Bank cheque of the Bank of Australasia, Melbourne branch. The rectangular paper has three sides that have been perforated. It is printed in blue with bank's Insignia of a heraldic shield of sheep hung by their waists and ships in full sail. Embossed Stamp Duty mark. Embossed dots. Handwritten black ink details Dated 3rd Dec 1885. Printed in Melbourne by Sands & McDougall. Diagonal parallel lines are across the cheque. Printed: "Bank of Australasia, MELBOURNE (75 COLLINS ST. WEST)." "454,358" "Sands & McDougall, Melbourne" Embossed stamp: Symbol of Crown above double oval lines " - STAMP DUTY" "ONE PENNY" Embossed dots forming test "7 PAID T2" Handwritten: "3rd Dec. [188] 5" "134 - Slater" "Seventy one pounds 11/S 5p" "£71.11.5" Signature: (undecipherable) flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, bank cheque, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, bank of australasia, boa, union bank, australia & new zealand bank, anz bank, bank note, melbourne, slater, sands & mcdougall, chrssed cheque, embossed dots, paid cheque

Refers to the service of "WO2 Tommy PATTISON". Refer Cat No 5342.4.1. These trousers are of Aust Cam colour. It has a pocket on each leg. The pocket is held shut with 2 buttons. It has a handkerchief pocket on each hip. It has adjustable tabs for waist size. It has belt loops of similar material. It has double thickness on the knee area. At the ankle end of legs is a hem with an elastic draw cord. The fly is held shut with five buttons. 2. These trousers are of Aust Cam colour. It has a pocket on each leg. The pocket is held shut with 2 buttons. It has a handkerchief pocket on each hip. It has adjustable tabs for waist size. It has belt loops of similar material. It has double thickness on the knee area. At the ankle end of legs is a hem with an elastic draw cord. The fly is held shut with five buttons. To adjust the waist size a small webbing belt and steel buckle have been employed. uniforms, aust army, wo2 tommy pattison.

A double deck horse drawn tram with single saloon. drop ends, stairs, longitudinal seats, sliding doors, wheels of cast iron, hand brakes - see notes. Originally built by Duncan & Fraser in 1887. Rebuilt by BTPS 1991. From the BTM Fleet page on the website: Built in 1887 by Duncan and Fraser for the Ballaarat Tramway Company Ltd. as a double-decked horse tramcar. One of eight cars which ran as trailers behind electric trams at times of heavy patronage, after takeover and conversion of the horse lines by the Electric Supply Company of Victoria Ltd. in 1905. Withdrawn in the late 1920's when the body shell became a residential outbuilding locally, until retrieved in 1985. Fully reconstructed to its original form and placed on a modified Melbourne saloon cable car truck. See attached notestrams, horse trams, tram 1

'Rosebank' house name, couple with 4 children standing in front of double fronted weatherboard home. Parents' name: Albert Paul THOMPSON (b.1865 d.1944) and Elizabeth Anna THOMPSON (nee FLEMING) (b.1874, m. 1899, d. 1954) Four daughters: Francis Ruby THOMPSON (b.1900 d. 1967) Violet May THOMPSON (b.1901 d.1966) Olive Doreen THOMPSON (b. 1902) Doris Grace THOMPSON (b. 1904)THOMPSON B/W Photograph mounted on card; Albert Paul and Elizabeth Anna THOMPSON with their 4 children at 'Rosebank' Geelong WestMarkers Mark: C Marshall Photographers on front of mount. On back: Marshall Photographers, O'Connell Street, Geelongthompson. nightingale, fleming, bedgood

NJ Phillips was the first Australian company to invent a drench gun that overcame the problem of drench going the 'wrong way' down the throat and onto a sheep’s lungs. This was the drench gun that they developed. It had an ingenious double action on the handpiece. The first squeeze projected a long nozzle that went right down the oesophagus before delivering the dose of drench automatically once this was in place. It also had a readily adjusted dose lever seen at left which minimised overdosing. This company dominated the market for many yearsSilver metal with black finishing drench gun. Minimal curvature tips on gun protrude from the body. Features a thin squeezable trigger to the rear of the body. The main bulk, which the trigger is squeezed towards, has badge which reads “Manufactured and designed by N.J. Phillips Pty Ltd, Sydney” in circular design. On top of this body is a large silver chamber in which both tips meet. This chamber is for the liquid to be transferred from the tube and into the tip of the drench gun for delivery onto the ewe’s tongue. The small section of tubing still attached has a yellow/orange appearance from remanence of drench which would have been this colour.Right circular lettering: MANUFACTURED/ & DESIGNED BY/ N.J.PHILLIPS PTY. LTD./ SYDNEY . AUSTRALIA/sheep drenching, veterinary instruments

Tennysons Hotel Sackville Street Port Fairy Patrick Tennyson leased the Farmers Inn in 1882 and applied to change the name to Tennysons Hotel. In 1885 he bought the freehold in the Great Land Sale for 780.12.8 (Pounds, shillings and pence) and then carried out extensive renovations. This double storied addition was added in 1893. The hotel continued under various licensees until it burned down in 1977 under the name "Fishermen's Arms". This photograph was taken during the licencee W J WrightBlack and white photograph of facade of two story building hotel, sackville street, port fairy, tennysons, fishermens arms, farmers inn, w.j.wright

Rose Series postcard No. P 1083, titled "Bourke Street Melbourne", showing a busy scene outside Buckley & Nunn Limited store and the Myer Emporium. In the view are two double-decker buses, two single-decker buses in the wartime livery with white mudguards and white rear panels. one horse-drawn cart is on the opposite of the road. There is a gas producer pack on the back of the car parked on the left-hand side of the photograph. Also in the view are signs for London Stores.Yields information about Bourke St early 1940s.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.tramways, bourke st, buses, world war ii, td5c class, ts8c class, mmtb buses

Item in the collection relating to C.J.C. McQuie MM, refer Cat No 9680P for his service details. Australian Army Reserve 1919 issued by Defence Department Melbourne. The centre double page outlines items like, eligibility to join - where - ranks - training units - uniforms - pay - discharge - command office, change of address - correspondence. The rear page details the pay scale per day from Lieut - 2nd Lieut 15/- down to private at 4/- per day. (/-) means Shillings.Pamphlet folded brownish colour, all print in black, stamp on the front in purple.The purple stamp, “Call or write to Lieut T.R. ……air Organising Officer - S.O.I and R.S . Office Victoria Barracks - Melbourne.reserve, mcquie, pamphlet

Postcard of cable tram dummy stationary outside the double storey "Myers" warehouse and office building in Lonsdale St, between Elizabeth and Swanston Sts. Three boys in shorts sit or stand on the dummy. The dummy's destination reads "Brighton Rd", which dates the photograph as between February 1924 and December 1925, (not c1929 as written) between the construction of the track in this section of Lonsdale St and the electric conversion of the Brighton Rd line. Also in the street are horse drawn carts and motor cars.Yields information about cable trams in Lonsdale St and MyerBlack and white postcard print with note on rear.In print on rear: "c1929 Lonsdale Street Warehouse, later to become 11-storey store. MYER - GROWING WITH AUSTRALIA since 1901 - today employs over 32,000 staff throughout the country in its Department Stores, Target Discount Stores and Supermarkets, speciality fashion stores, liquor and fast food outlets. AFFIX STAMP HERE"myers, lonsdale st, cable dummy, brighton rd line, electric conversion, horse drawn carts, warehouse, boys, shorts

This is a set of 12 photographs of 4th Field Survey Squadron’s CPL John Ratcliffe setting a world record for an exercise routine comprising push-ups, sit-ups and double back-arches at Keswick Barracks, Adelaide in November 1986. A newspaper article of unknown origin titled “John sets world’s best time in routine” was published reporting the achievement. The article reported: “Corporal John Ratcliffe has smashed his personal best time, his greatest expectations and the 16-year-old Australian record for a push-up, sit-up and double back-arch routine. Corporal Ratcliffe, 37, set a world record by doing 1232 push-ups (clapping his chest with his hands between each one), 1936 back-arches and 440 sit-ups in one hour, 16 minutes and 29 seconds yesterday. Officials representing the Guinness Book of Records were present and passed his effort. The record was achieved by repeating a set of 14 push-ups, 22 double back-arches and 5 sit-ups, 88 times. The Australian record for the same routine was set in 1970 in the time of 1 hour 41 minutes. CPL Ratcliffe beat his personal best time by 13 minutes. “I could not do it without them” CPL Ratcliffe said of the crowd. Nearing the end of the routine when he was tiring, the crowd of more than 100 clapped and chanted encouragement. CPL Ratcliffe, who works in the Army’s surveying department, said the most important aspect of the exercise was raising money for Legacy, not getting his name in the record books.” This achievement was also reported in the Army Newspaper dated 11th Dec 1986. There are eight more photos that have not been published in the set of negatives.This is a set of 12 photographs of 4th Field Survey Squadron’s CPL John Ratcliffe setting a exercise routine world record at Keswick Barracks, Adelaide in November 1986. The black & white photographs are on 35mm negative film and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 96 dpi. .1) to .9) - Photo, black & white, 1986. CPL John Ratcliffe during his exercise routine. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1986. CPL John Ratcliffe celebrates the new world record. L to R: Bob Rogister, Wally Chilcott. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1986. CPL John Ratcliffe celebrates the new world record. L to R: Peter Imeson, Bob Rogister, Wally Chilcott. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1986. CPL John Ratcliffe interviewed by media after setting the new world record. .1P to .12P – There are no other personnel identified. ‘CPL RATCLIFFE “WORLD RECORD”. NOV 1986’ annotated on negatives sleeve.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, 4 fd svy sqn

In UK in early 1800's the word 'mechanic' was applied to a broader range of skills such as working man, tradesman or artisan. Mechanics' Institutes were formed originally for voluntary, self-funded organisations, to improve the education of working men and to instruct them on their various trades. The germ of the idea came from a class formed in 1799 by Professor George Birbeck in Glasgow, Scotland, for journeymen mechanics (apprentice trade workers), with the first Institutes being organised in London and Manchester in the 1820's. By then the original aim had broadened and the Mechanics' Institutes were established as popular agencies of adult education. The Mechanics' Institutes were run by committees that provided facilities for a meeting room, hall suitable for lectures, and a library. Funding was raised locally and often supplemented by grants from government agencies for the purchase of books and other resources. Activities were community based. In Australia, Mechanics' Institutes were set up in New South Wales and in Tasmania in the late 1820's. Mechanics' Institutes began in Victoria, with the first one in Melbourne dating from 1839, providing similar services but in time offered services tailored to their specific area. 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 November1884 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 q856 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. In 1975 the original building was demolished and 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 art works 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. NOTE: Pages of this book have been digitally recorded and archived.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. Record book; School of Design Minutes and Institute 1883-1886 / Monthly Statement of Receipts & Expenditure 1898-1905 (Double purpose book). Card cover, red/blue/white pattern, red cloth binding, pages have ruled lines. Label on one cover reads "Monthly Statement of Receipts and Expenditure 1898-1899", label on other cover reads "Comparative Statement"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, warrnambool mechanics' institute, mechanics' institute records warrnambool, record book 1883

This boot belonged to Thomas Rome and may have been either an apprentice’s model or a display item in his boot and shoe shop or both. Thomas James Rome (1873-1974) worked in John Younger’s store in Beechworth before both came to Warrnambool in 1888. Rome worked in Younger’s store in Liebig Street, Warrnambool for 17 years and then established his own boot and shoe store at 115 Liebig Street in 1907, retiring in 1962. He married Amelia Saltau and they lived at Murweh at the corner of Liebig and Princess Streets, Warrnambool. Thomas Rome is mostly remembered today for his purchase and use of an Edison phonograph machine in the late 1890s and the sound recordings he made with this machine at the Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896-7. These recordings were found intact after Rome’s death and are regarded as the earliest sound recordings still surviving in Australia today. This sample boot is of great significant as an example of the bootmaker’s art in the early 20th century and as a memento of Thomas Rome, important in Warrnambool’s history as a businessman and in the history of sound recording in Australia. This is a small sample black leather boot (probably a lady’s boot). It has double ridged stitching across the instep with a soft leather upper part and stitching separating the soft leather section from the smooth leather. The right side of the boot has seven button holes and seven buttons attached with metal clips. The sole is leather with a small heel and the name of the owner stamped on the sole. ‘10’ ‘T.J.Rome’ thomas rome, history of warrnambool, antique lady's boot, leather boot vintage