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 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 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. The Coin Collectors Manual Vol 2 Or guide to the Numismatic student in the formation of A Cabinet of Coins Author: H Noel Humphreys Publisher: George Bell & Sons Date: 1887Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 737 HUM Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, 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, the coin collectors manual vol 2, h noel humphreys

This balance was used at the Ballarat School of Mines. A two-pan beam balance, mounted on a wood base board. Housed in a timber-framed glass-sided cabinet. Aluminium pans. No balance weights. 25.5 beam length.33439 on back of beam support. Small plate on top of door: Townen and Mercer, Sydenybalance, scientific instrument, oertling

Dark black and white photocopy of a photo of a man beside a cabinet of shaving mugs. Written on the back is - Norm Sharples Long Gully Hairdresser Variety Shaving Mugs 1987.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - norm sharples long gully hairdresser

Black and white photograph of Captain C Darby of the P S Charles Edward showing a gentleman wearing a three piece suit with top hat on the cabinet he is leaning on.recreation, celebrations

This image was on a CD-ROM which was placed in a time capsule in December 1997, just before the Ballarat School of Mines merged with the University of Ballarat (now Federation University Australia). The time capsule should have been opened in 2020, the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Ballarat School of Mines, but was postponed due to successive lockdowns during the Covid19 pandemic. The time capsule was opened in 2022.The Ballarat School of Mines File Server Room on the top floor of the Brewery Building, Room 2-1. The communications cabinet in the File Server Room serviced the whole of the Breery Building.ballarat school of mines, time capsule, information technology, computers, brewery building, file server room

Steel upright cooker with flat bi-fold hinged lid, handles. Comprising cabinet, cooking utensils (egg slide, ladle, rolling pin), petrol operated burner belowRange 4range cooker, cooker

Singer, black metal with gold decorations treadle type, in wooden cabinet, placed on a black metal frame. Machine folds away and has 3 drawers down either sidesee photosewing, sewing machine, singer, treadle

Treadle sewing machine in wooden cabinet with a fold out lid, and opening door, and a foot operated treadle below. Gold floral painting on plate and machine body, and a bag of 'feet'."Victor Medium CS Serial Number 173897"sewing machines

Black and white photo. Gentleman in suit holding a gun, appears to be a legacy badge on his lapel. He is believed to be a member of the Bendigo Historical Society, possibly a former President. To the left is a display cabinet displaying guns and relating artifacts, bottle and photos. In the front is a pram with hood. In the rear is another display cabinet with books and gold nuggets (probably imitation). Display is possibly in Dudley House. Markings/Inscriptions: on rear; FH77 (underlined) in pencilorganization, club/society, bendigo historical society

Refer safe filing cabinet under (T). This scrapbook is mainly about the Teesdale family members ( Father Victor and sons Leslie & Mervyn ) who were members of the Australian Army.Rectangular shaped with a multi coloured cover.Jungle scrapbook.scrapbook, pte . l.e.teesdale, lara r.s.l.

Displayed in History House (Cabinet, South wall)Blue glass with gold and white hand-painted floral pattern.domestic, drinking, food and drink

Displayed in History House (Cabinet, South wall)Willow-pattern plate with brown design.Front: Base: Willow/AF & S (brown print, centre)

Black and white photograph of penny farthing bicycle, sitting on top of display cabinet, at Golden Days Historical Exhibition, 1960. In background: RSL Women's Auxiliary, Bendigo Branch memorial board.bendigo, history, golden days historical exhibition

'Fossils' From 'Bendigo and Surrounding Districts'. Wood framed glass cabinet, top glass broken. 122cm x 61cm. Removed from display case as glass was considered unsafe. To be catalogued.cottage, miners

Cabinet Portrait of Baby Girl. Child is seated above a furry rug. She is wearing a lacy dress and a high, frilly lacy hat. Behind her are some flowers. Nothing on the back.F. Stubbs, St. Arnaudphotograph, portrait, baby, cabinet portrait of baby girl, f stubbs st arnaud

Shield shape - wooden with silver shield inside . Musical motif/Irish harp/advance Stanley - extra pes. Cabinet hinged - lockable. Ornate scrolled top on wooden part of shield.Engraved 'Beechworth Choir Contest' Judge Redford 7th Oct 1903

Black and white photo of the new substation for the Bundoora to La Trobe University extension, c Jan 1985, opened 10/1/1985. Shows the cabinet type set up and foundations..1 - On the rear in ink - "Tram power sub stn newly installed near La Trobe Uni"trams, tramways, opening, la trobe university, bundoora, substation

Located in Casterton Town Hall, upstairs in glass cabinet.black and white photograph of a procession of people and horse-drawn carraiges. They are standing on a road between a picket fence and a brick building with a decorative portico.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: Belongs to/ Ruth July/ re Audrey Grand (black pen, centre)casterton, lord hopetoun, horse-drawn carriage, 1800s

Names of children on separate piece of paper in filing cabinet.Colour photograph of nineteen named children from Johnsonville primary school at the Annual School Sports at Howitt Park in Bairnsdale Victoriaschools

A pair of scales or dishes in which objects to be weighed and the weights / masses against which to weigh them are placed is an "Apparatus for weighing. The pan, or each of the pans, of a balance." Its parts include a fulcrum, a beam that balances on it, two pans at the ends of the beam to hold the materials to be weighed, and counter-balancing weights. Gottingen made fine precision scientific scales for use by assayers, jewellers, chemists, gold buyers rtc. A 2 pan analytical, scientific or pharmaceutical beam balance scale made in Gottingen Germany c 1880. These scales are encased in a mahogany framed glass cabinet and Graded 0 -9 9-0D.R.PATENT / GOTTINGER PRAZISIONSWAGENFABRIK G.m.b.H. / GOTTINGEN On upright V over GPW scales, balance, precision measures, gold, pharmacy, precious metals, jewellery, gottingen germany, sartorious f, moorabin, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, gold miners, pioneers, market gardeners, ballarat, bendigo, imperial measure, troy weight

Cabinet Portrait of a family consisting of father, mother and five children. Adults are seated, the lady has a baby on her knee, one girl is seated and three girls are standing. Nothing written on the back.Stubbs, St. Arnaudphotograph, portrait, family, cabinet portrait of a family, stubbs st. arnaud