Literary Institute Restoration 1989. Man on left is President of Historical Society Mr Cliff Loats and on right is Former Treasurer Mr John Van Leeuwen.stawell

Great Western Group of Males sampling wine. From left Mr Pickering School Teacher ??? Henry Best Senior and Frank Hurley Station Master.stawell winery

Pattison Collection This item is from 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. 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 lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. 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 Ralph 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. 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 area 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 during 1942 to 1942 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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. Good-bye Mr Chips Author: James Hilton Publisher: Hodder Stoughton Date: 1934 The label on the spine with the typed text PAT FIC HIL Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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, great ocean road, good-bye mr chips, james hilton

Typed invoice to Mr J. Aird for groceries to the value of £2.10.2½

Black and white photograph of Mr. J. Herring with Shot Rabbits.herring, jack

Typed below photograph, "Mr. E. F. Cass and pupils at Ringwood's first school, corner Everard Rd. & Maroondah Highway. 1883." Other notes on backing sheets read, "Cass State School 1451, Mr. E. F. Cass (Head teacher 1874-1894)".

The Melbourne Exhibition was held as part of the centennial celebrations in Australia in 1888. This glass engraved with the purchaser’s name, was a souvenir of the occasion.The Melbourne Centennial Exhibition held in 1888 was a major event covering exhibits of most aspects of life. Large numbers of people attended, in this case a Mr Robb, Joseph Robb, grandfather of the donor.Small clear glass tumbler with etched leaf design .Melbourne Exhibition 1888 Mr Robbwarrnambool, melbourne centennial exhibition, 1888 centennial exhibition, joseph robb

William Garnsworthy Bennett was at Linton's Diggings in 1856, when he married Susan Williams. Both had migrated from England. W. G. Bennett established a butcher's shop in Linton Township, and later purchased farming land and other town allotments. William and Susan Bennett had twelve children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. W. G. Bennett was a Trustee of the Linton Town Common, was elected to the Grenville Shire Council in 1871,and founded the Linton Rifle Club. After W. G. Bennett's death in 1903, the butcher's shop was run by the Todd family. William and Susan's daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) married William Todd in 1882.Sepia photograph of a gentleman with long sideboards, moustache and beard, wearing a suit."Mr W G Bennett, Butcher"william garnsworthy bennett, w. g. bennett [butcher]

Black and white copy of original photograph of an older man sitting with an older woman standing on his right with her left hand on his shoulder. He is wearing a 3 piece suit and fob chain. She is wearing a dark dress with an embroidered shawl and bonnet tied under her chin."Mr and Mrs Corrigan of Happy Valley"mr and mrs corrigan, happy valley

Copy of original photograph. Photograph shows a gentleman wearing suit and top hat, standing with left hand leaning on arm of a chair, right arm crooked at waist height."Mr John Clarke of Piggoreet Station".mr john clarke, piggoreet station

Part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 30Sepia photograph of an older bearded man wearing jacket, collar and tie."Mr (Breezer) Morrison of Happy Valley".christopher (breezer) morrison, old lintonians collection, james (breezer) morrison

John Cox had mining and farming interests at Linton from about 1860. He was an uncle of John Henry Cox, also a Linton identity. This photograph is part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 15. Another very similar (but damaged) photograph of same pair (Registration no. 393) shows a young boy, presumably a son, standing behind the woman. Portrait of a man wearing coat and trousers with arms folded across chest, and a lady wearing a gown buttoned down the front and hat, with hands crossed on lap, both seated.On back - "Mr and Mrs J Cox". eliza cox née mcdonald, john cox, old lintonian collection

Black and white photograph"Written on back of photograph" Mr J.B.McAlpin in his car, the first in Ringwood, Mr Clive Jones in doorway of Office.

Lydiard St level crossing with an Electric Supply Co. of Victoria tram, northbound to Gregory St in Lydiard St North. The tram has three equal windows and is most likely one of the ex-Sydney electric trams that were sold to Ballarat. A number is not discernable. Note the ladies sitting on the outside seats. Ballarat B signal box with signalman looking out the window overlooks the level crossing with gates. C1907.Yields information about an early ESCo tram in Lydiard St North at the level crossing.Photograph, black and white - plain black with some notes on rear Has Ken Magor stamp, "Mr Duffy" in pencil in top right hand corner, "Ballarat Tramways ? date".tramways, trams, esco, lyiard st north, level crossing, signal box