George Innes purchased land in the County of Grant, Parish of Buninyong, for the sum of Thirty-six pounds, three shillings and eight pence. The price paid was for eleven acres one rood and nine perches. The document is witnessed by Charles Joseph La Trobe Esquire on 3 May 1854 in Melbourne. La Trobe was Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of VictoriaThick paper written on by hand. Top edge and right-hand corner damaged Dated 3 May 1854 Signature of Charles Joseph La Trobe and J Moorela trobe, lieutenant governor, george innes, county of grant, parish of buninyong, land purchase

Badge was almost certainly produced as a World War I fundraiser related to the fall of France. It has 'Vive la France Fete Nationale 14-7-16' printed on it.VIVE LA FRANCE / F?E NATIONALE 14-7-16world war i

Perutz colour slide, grey plastic mount, photo by Keith Caldwell of SW6 885 reversing in La Trobe St, just before Swanston St. A parade is being undertaken in the background - Moomba. In the background is the Shot Tower with an advert for Penfolds Wine and the Travellers Hotel on the corner. A conductress is tying the pole down. Behind the tram is a red private bus - ? Passenger Services. 14/3/1966In ink "La Trobe 14.3.66" and a purple date stamp.trams, tramways, sw6 class, deepdene, route 45, moomba, la trobe st, swanston st, conductresses, tram 885

Rows of graves from the Battle of Fromelles, then called Flerbaix. Among the graves is that of Captain Norman Gibbins, 55th Battalion, born in Ararat Victoria. A Gallipoli veteran, at Fromelles, Gibbins fought a desperate rear guard bombing action while under heavy German attack. It allowed many Australians including the wounded to get back to the safety of their own lines. When his path was blocked by dead and wounded Gibbins stood up and was fatally shot. His body was recovered and moved seven kilometres behind the lines where his grave was one of 111 Australians initially buried at Sailly-sur-la-lys. ww1, world war 1, cemetery, fromelles, flerbaix, norman gibbins, aif, a.i.f

This notebook comes from the estates of the Misses Dorothy and Agnes Ardlie of Warrnambool. Dorothy Ardlie (1910-1993) and her sister Agnes Ardlie (1915-1993) were the daughters of Ethel and Arthur Ardlie of Warrnambool, the granddaughters of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the great granddaughters of John and Mary Ardlie, early Warrnambool settlers. The notebook has been used in 1954 as a visitors book and later as an address book and a notebook for recipes, messages etc. The significance of ‘A la Ronde’ or ‘In the Round’ on the opening page is not known. This notebook is of minor interest as a memento of the Misses Dorothy and Agnes Ardlie of Warrnambool (20th century)This is a small notebook with a light brown cover with an ornamental gold edging around the front cover. The cover is somewhat stained. The pages are gilt-edged and contain handwritten signatures, names and addresses and notes. There are many blank pages.Visitors Book A La Ronde 1954 ardlie family, history of warrnambool

A history of three La Trobe University student union activists in the early 1970s - Brian Pola, Barry York and Fergus Robinson - who disobeyed the University's order to stay off campus. They were subsequently imprisoned at Pentridge Prison for several months although no criminal charges were made known. The account of on-campus student politics is fascinating and complex in comparison to contemporary student unionism. At the time of their release and to date, the University has not apologised to the "La Trobe Three" for what happened. The book is written by Barry York who was one of the "La Trobe Three"; it was published in the year of La Trobe University's 25th anniversary. Relevant to student unionism in the 1970s and contemporary to Australia's participation in the Vietnam War. Issues relating to university culture, social justice and activism.Paperback; 184 pages. Front cover: black and white; title and author's name; black and white photo of student activists. Back cover: black and white; black and white photo of student activists and police at La Trobe University.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, pola, brian, york, barry, robinson, fergus, unions - student, universities, prisons - pentridge, la trobe university, la trobe university - student representative council, student activism, social justice, maoism, vietnam war, vice chancellors - david myers, premiers - bolte

The Grinton Collection. Captured German guns at the “Place de la Concorde” France Refer Cat No 1280 for Jack Grintons service details. Photograph - framed. Photograph - black and white photograph on paper depicts a collection of at least ten guns (German) in a plaza, one soldier in the foreground and buildings in background. Frame - timber, light varnish finish, Perspex front, cardboard backing."Group 3: Trip of a Lifetime". "E. Captured German guns at the Place de la Concorde".framed accessories, camera on the somme, ww1, 38th bn, grinton, france

This is an actual battle map used by Australian Forces in the battle of the Somme in France in April 1917. It is an ordinance survey map of the trenches in the area. It is framed in two pieces, one being the main map and the other the legend used to read the map. It details the river 'La Lys Riviera' and the city 'Armentieres', in the Somme. somme, trench map, ww1, belgium, france, armentieres, 1917, ordinance survey map

Rodd instruction manual found between the plate and the cushion.Rodd silver engraved plate commemorating the maiden voyage of CGM La Perouse in 1988.CGM logo ‘Presented by the master/of/CGM LA PEROUSE/ On the occasion of/Her Maiden Voyage to Australia/November 1988 Back of plate: white sticker WMA 56 PMA 0L14/1 Inside of box lid: PMA 0214/2 9 AUG 198? (last stamp obscured)gifts

Colour slide in a mount. Magazine image of the Dominican "Metastasis" / Musical Glass Wall by Xenakis, La Tourette Convent, near Lyon, France (1961). (Architect: Le Corbusier.)Made in Australia (Print) / Dominican "Metastassis" / Musical Glass Wall by Xenakis / musical-eng / Convent d'Etudes / LA TOURETTE / Encircled 4 (All Handwritten)slide, robin boyd

Postcard featuring Y class tram 469 turning from William Street into La Trobe Street during the 1985 cable car celebrations. Tram showing destination of Football. Flagstaff station was under construction at the time. Photo by Earl Ewers. Postcard produced by Association of Railway Enthusiasts ARE No. 10/06. Has Railcard copyright and phone number of rear, ARE shop details and hours, space for small message, address and stamp. This tram is on display at the Museum's Hawthorn Depot - see reference.Yields information about Y class trams and the intersection of William and Latrobe Streets.Postcard - Tram Y 469 - La Trobe St 1985 - produced by the Association of Railway Enthusiasts.trams, tramcars, y class tram, tram 469, william street, la trobe street, are

The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as “one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria’s shipwreck history”. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph, William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St, Warrnambool. James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle. The story of William Ferrier’s brave act follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a northwesterly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person had washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This postcard is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800’s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph. This postcard is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in the middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats. Printed below the photograph are the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer. Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.Printed on the front of the card is “Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL” “PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.” Handwritten on the front of the card is “Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ “ Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. “La Bella” Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud [possibly Richmond] drowned” and signed “Desdewoua [possibly Desdemona] Slogos”la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

Allan's edition No.3 Burgmuller's 25 easy and progressive studies. The book has 35 pages. The book has been covered with a protective black plastic cover. Contents: La Candeur - L'Arabesque - La Pastorale - La Petite Reunion - Innocence - Progres - Le Courant Limpide - La Gracieuse - La Chasse - Tendre Fleur - La Bergeronnette - L'Adieu - Consolation - La Styrienne - Ballade - Douce Plainte - La Babillarde - Inquietude - Ave Maria - La Tarantelle - L'Harmonie des Anges - Barcarolle - Le Retour - L'Hirondelle - La Chevaleresque.books, music

Three of a collection of photographs donated by Bernie De La Haye.Three photographs of the Phillip Island Brass Band. 350-11: Colour photograph of the Band in the street at the end of a marching display at the West and South Gippsland Regional Band Competition at Leongatha or Korumburra? 350-12: Black & White photograph of the Band taken outdoors. 350-13: Colour photograph of the Band taken during a break during a concert in the 1950's.Names of members in 350-13: Bandsmen seated Left to Right: R De La Haye, R Cleeland, J Dixon, R Dixon, G Gliddon, P Forrest, A Towns, M De La Haye, J Gliddon, A Murdoch, W McLardy, B West, L Dixon, H De La Haye, N Cleeland. Bandsmen Standing Left to Right: E Booth, E May (Bandmaster), G Dunscombe, A Murray. Non Band Members, Left to Right: B Forrest, P Forrest jrn., S Papworth, M Toovey (being cheeky).phillip island brass band, phillip island municipal brass band, bernie de la haye

Series of photos of towns and churches in northern France that were relevant to various battles in WW1.1. B & W photo of tower circa 1431 in Rouen France. 2. B & W picture of Church gate at Eglise Saint-Maclou in Rouen France. 3. B & W photo of French chapel - :La Chapelle De Caestre in Northern France. 4. B & W photo of Church in Neve - Berquin, a town in Northern France.1. Titled - "Rouen - Tour De Fut Enfernee Jeanne D'Arc". 2. Titled - "Rouen - Escalier Des Orgues De L'eglise Saint - Maclou". 3. Titled - "La Chapelle De Caestre". 4. Titled - "La Guerre Dans Le Nord"passchendaele barracks trust, postcards, ww1, france

Photographs of regional towns in Northern France that were sites of important battles in WW1 and WW2. Both towns are locations of Military Cemeteries.1. B & W photo of French Chateau in Fletre, Flanders, France. 2. B & W photo of Hazebrouck- Le Pont De Meuniers. A waterway in Northern France. 3. B & W photo of Hazebrouck - Watten- La Filature Carts Theatre in Northern France. 4. B & W photo of Fletre - Rue De Bailleul - Street of town in Northern France.1. Headed Fletre - La Chateau. 2. Headed Hazebrouck - Le Pont Des Meuniers. 3. Headed 3. Watten - La Filature. At bottom Imp. Gobrecht Hazebrouck. 4. Bottom - Fletre - Rue De Baillel and Imp Gobrecht Hazebrouck.passchendaele barracks trust, postcards, flanders

EPNS crumb tray and bristle brush tray with embossed decoration and dimpled tray, brush showing fleur de lys.domestic equipment, cleaning, brush

METAL HAT PIN WITH CUT GLASS DECORATION INSET ON EACH OF THE FLEUR DE LYS PATTERN AT EACH END OF THE PINNILpersonal adornment, fashion item

Refer Cat No 2380 for details re Frank Barnes service.7 books of collected postcards from Belgium and France from FRANK BARNES to UNA FRANKLING of Harcourt. .1) Covers loose, dated 7.4.17 Albert (Somme) after the bombardment. .2) Card loose, Cathedrale de Reims after the bombardment dated 17.1.19. .3) Dated 18.3.1919, cover loose, Zeebrugge. .4) 2 loose cards undated, Ypres after the war. .5) Charleroi dated 12.2.1919, 3 loose pages. .6) Chateau la Malmaison dated 15.11.1918. .7) Amiens undated, 1 card loose.Photographs of Albert, Reimes Zeebrugge, Ypres, Charleroi, Chateau de la Malmaison and Amiens, Handwriting.military history, documents - photographs, photography-photographs

Postcard Album of Blanche Sly. Postcards stored in Folder 81 (49 postcards). 1403.1 - 1403.28 Grey linen look cover with picture of a small sailing boat pasted centre front pf cover. Partly torn sticker on lower LH corner. Blanche Victoria SLY Born: 11 Oct 1890, daughter of William and Hannah Sly Address: 1913; Loddon Vale Address: 1980; 100 Barnard Street Bendigo Died: Bendigo 12 June 1982, buried Bendigo G3 William Sly: Born: 1856 at Smythesdale, Victoria Married in Victoria in 1887; Hannah Theilman Died: Bendigo 1937, buried Bendigo G1 Hannah Sly Nee Theilman Born: 1866 Married in Victoria in 1887; William Sly Died: Bendigo 1948, buried Bendigo G3 See additional Research .Postcard Album of Blanche Sly containing 49 postcards. See 1403 Coloured photo of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme Sailing boat on the water with two women watching from the shore.Addressee - to Blanche Sender - Tommy Not Dated postcard, collector, blanche sly

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 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. 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 it's 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 has 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. A Village Commune Author: Ouida Publisher: George Robertson Ouida was the pseudonym of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé (although she preferred to be known as Marie Louise de la Ramée). 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 The Flyleaf has the name "Louise De La Ranie" written in blue ink. book, a village commune, ouida, maria louise ramé, marie louise de la ramée, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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

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