Coloured photo of Jason, the Teddy Tale Man entertaining children in garden of Schwerkolt Cottage at Wisteria Garden Party 2000.wisteria party 2000, nunawading and district historical society, schwerkolt cottage

Booklet titled "Services for Customers with special needs", dated 1/12/1991 published by The Met and V/Line providing details of disability services at major railway stations, Travellers Aid, lifts, wheelchairs, vision impairment, hearing. Primarily rail focused.Yields information about the scope of disability services on Victorian Public Transport in 1991 - poor compared to now.Booklet - 24 pages finished to DL size, centre stapled.the met, disability services, v/line

James Oddie was one of the earliest settlers of Ballarat. Known as the 'father' of Ballarat important events in his life were often highlighted.A black and white photo stuck onto mount board showing 23 people standing on the Verandah of James Oddie's house in Macarthur Street Ballarat. The photo was taken the occasion of James Oddie's 85th birthday. James Oddie stands in front of the doorway. The bearded man 2 people to the right of James Oddie is Alfred Mica Smith of the Ballarat School of MinesOn mount 'James Oddie's 85th Birthday Party, Ballarat, 31st March, 1909.' 'Richards & Co Ballarat'ballarat, alfred mica smith, james oddie, macarthur street ballarat, piper, scottish piper, kilt

Pamphlet - 3 fold DL printed on gloss paper, titled "Imagine a party where the Venue changes every ten seconds", prompting the hire of trams for party's. Lists types of trams, conditions and what can be done. Gives contact details for Camberwell, Kew, East Preston and Southbank depots. Pamphlet c2002trams, tramways, yarra trams, charters, depots, passenger services

Australian Tour party at Menin Gate. The man in the red tie is Senator Michael Ronaldson, the woman in the striped shirt is Ann Gervasoni.menin gate, world war one, michael ronaldson, ann gervasoni

Typed below photograph, "1950 - Parish Hall Xmas Party. Linda Evans, Mrs. Caughey, Mrs. Gray"

Date made December 2000Colour photograph Glenara Motel, showing dining room set-up for Red Cross Christmas party lunch. Lakes Entrance Victoriacelebrations, motels, rsl clubs

Photos of a Christmas Party for junior legatees and the Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group. The photos show Legatees cooking sausages on the BBQ. It appears to have been sponsored by Brumby's bakeries. Location is not known. The children were given gifts of sleeping bags by Santa Claus. The Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group is a dedicated group of young people aged between 18 and 35 years who themselves were Junior Legatees. They organise and conduct events throughout the year for young Junior Legatees. The photos were mounted in an album of events that happened for Junior Legatees in 2001, including a trip to the Aquarium, a trip to Luna Park, horse riding and fishing and a Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group Christmas party. Melbourne Legacy arranged many events for Junior Legatees to experience. A record of the outings provided for Junior Legatees organised by Legacy.Colour photo x 2 of a Christmas Party for Junior Legatees and the Legacy Leadership Group 2001.Yellow label printed 'Christmas Party 2001'.junior legatee outing, junior legatees, christmas party, legatees

In the earliest years of the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line all trains were hauled by NA-class 2-6-2 tank locomotives. From 1926, with the introduction of articulated Beyer Garrett locomotive G41, it hauled the majority of trains with the NAs providing supplementary service as required. Late in 1945 Garratt G41 was again out of action undergoing repairs at the depot in Colac so regular traffic again was handled by an NA for a short time. The line continued to survive on pulpwood long after other VR narrow gauge lines had ceased operation but finally, on 30 June 1962, a dilapidated G42 hauled the last train of goods wagons and vans to Beech Forest and return.Focus on Victoria's Narrow Gauge: Beech Forest Line, Part One. John E. Thompson. Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); Jan 2004. vi, 42 p.; illus; maps. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9579792 4 Xvictorian railways; narrow gauge; beech forest; colac; crowes; edward a. downs; john e. thompson;

Hardcover book, 261 pages. Book has a black cover with gold embossed text.fictionRomance novel.james branch cabell, romance, fiction

The Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited launched the Ocean Liner RMS Orion in 1934 and it remained in operation until 1963. The twin screw steamship was built to carry first class and tourist class passengers, over 1100 in all, plus almost 500 crew from Europe to Australia in comfort. The ship had a single funnel and a single mast. During WWII the vessel served as a troop carrier. The ventilation system noted on the plan, Punkah Louvre System, was designed for heating fresh air ventilation in buildings, ships and railroads. The system originated from Thermotank in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship plan for the RMS Orion is significant for its connection with the vessel. The ship was a leader, with several 'firsts'; the first Orient Line ship to be built with a single funnel since 1902, and the first to be painted in the Orient Line's livery, with a corn-coloured hull. It was the first liner to use chromium and bakelite materials for the surfaces throughout the ship, which provided greater resistance to the sea. It was also the first British ship to be fitted with air conditioning.Plan: printed provisional line drawing of the Orient line vessel "R.M.S. Orion". Inscriptions are printed on the plan. There are diagrams of six decks included in the plan. The ship is built for tourist "B" accommodation. The plan's Notices include details of the cabins including wardrobes, drawers, hinged seats, mattresses and bunk numbers. It also notes that there is a Punkah-Louvre System of Ventilation.Printed on the plan: "PROVISIONAL PLAN" "LOWER PROMENADE DECK" "UPPER CABIN DECK" "MAIN CABIN DECK" "LOWER CABIN DECK" "SUN DECK" "PROMENADE DECK" "ORIENT LINE / R.M.S. "ORION" / 24,000 TONS / TOURIST "B" CLASS ACCOMMODATION" "Owners: Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited"' "Managers : ANDERSON, GREEN & CO. LTD" "7 BISHOPS GATE, LONDON, E.C.2" "Chief Passenger Office : 14 Cockspur Street, London, S.W.1" "Branch Passenger Office : 1 Australia House, Strand, W.C.2" "notices"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, rms orion, plan, ship plan, provisional plan, orient line, orient ship, vissel orion, class b passenger accommodation, punkah louvre system of ventilation, deck plan, ship ventilation, ship floor plan, orient steam navigation company limited, anderson green & co ltd, steamship, ocean liner, war ship, troop carrier

Photograph of two children in the garden at Schwerkolt Cottage to publicise the Wisteria Time Party organised by Nunawading and District Historical Society on 12 October 1997Wisteria Time Party organised by Nunawading and District Historical Society on 12 October 1997nunawading and district historical society, simon's mobile menagerie, brumbies bush band

This menu would have been printed to distribute to guests attending dinner on the Orient Line, which embarked for the Middle East in 1940. The dinner was held on Thursday 18th July of the same year. Signatures on the reverse of this document were signed by Ken Williams, RW Sterrett, MR Campbell, J.H. Christie, JH McKinnon and F Finch. This item relates closely to a photograph of the 3rd Squadron, in RAAF uniform, boarding the Orient Line.This menu is an item of ephemera dating to the World War Two era. Items such as this are ordinarily lost over the passage of time. As the item contains signatures it is possible that further research and interpretation could be done regarding the men it relates to. The item is therefore of historic and social significance and has good interpretive capacity.Card with printed lettering centrally spaced and folded along horizontal centreline. There are hand written inscription on the front and reverse in pen ink.On the front, top: 3 Sqn RAAF boarding for the Middle East. On the front, lower left there are markings under and to the right of the printed word 'tourist'. The is a thick line under the word, two arrows pointing to it from beneath and a question mark to the right. On the reverse, upper left corner: Ken Williams, RW Sterrett MR Campbell JH Christie JH McKinnon F Finchdinner menu, orient line, raaf, royal australian air force, ken williams, r w sterrett, m r campbell, j h mckinnon, f finch, j h christie, 3 squadron

Notes 10 pages, pinned together, giving details, opening dates, terminals, depot entries, sheave pits, curves, for the Bourke St to Nicholson St line, Brunswick East, including the connection into Spencer St. Includes 2 pages pinned together for the Gertrude, Smith St to Queens Parade line. Items 2064 to 2075 within box 72.3 in a brown folder marked "MT&O Co." red pencil on the front cover.trams, tramways, mto co, cable trams, drawings, reports, surveys, bourke st, nicholson st, gertrude st, smith st, queens parade

The railway line from Melbourne to Bacchus Marsh was completed in February 1887. After this date work continued to extend the line to Ballan. This map indicates a portion of land only a few hundred metres west of the Bacchus Marsh railway station which would have been among the first stages of the line to Ballan to have been constructed. This suggests the date of this map to be in the late 1880s.Single page map showing land required for railway line work near Griffith Street, Bacchus Marsh. Scale 10 chains to 1 inch. Hand-written on the map are the exact distances between Bacchus Marsh and Gordons (Gordon) and between Bacchus Marsh and Melbourne as measured from the corner of Maddingley Road and Station Street. Distances recorded are in miles, chains and links. The land required for the railway works is marked in red ink and runs through an area known as Kennedy's Gully. Part of a set of maps which are pasted into a bound volume containing 76 maps or plans in total. High resolution digital image stored on BMDHS computer network. bacchus marsh victoria history, maddingley victoria history, railway lines

Pamphlet, double sided A4, gloss paper titled "Melbourne 249 The Federal Capital Commission Tram", giving details of W2 249 that had been painted and demonstrated for a proposed Canberra tram line by the Sydney Tramway Museum. Details the proposal with a map. On the other side is the story of Sydney R1 class 2001, the RAAF recruiting tram. See also Reg Item 4752 for another photo.trams, tramways, w2 class, canberra, sydney tramway museum, raaf, sydney, tram 249, tram 2001

Colour photograph of a party in the house behind North Kew Newsagency at 93 Willsmere Rd, North Kew. The party was held after the first successful election of John Hogan Gervasoni to Kew City Council. Left to right - Fr Bob Maguire, Vin Read, Phyl Read, Gus Gervasoni, Pat Walsh, Allen Walsh, Kath Rice, Kathleen Gervasoni.bob maguire, vin read, phyl read, gus gervasoni, pat walsh, allen walsh, kath rice, kathleen gervasoni

Coloured photograph of the railway line crossing Mitcham Road. Blue car on road.Railway line heading east towards Ringwood.mitcham railway station, mitcham railway line, railways

Published: The opening of the railway line by His Excellency The Governor General, The Weekly Times, June 14, 1902, p10.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Negative black and white film 120 6x9 format 2 stripsAgfa APX 100sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, heidelberg-eltham railway extension

Given out at the opening of Montmorency Railway Station 2023.Draw string fabric bag.'H' Hurstbridge Line Duplication; Delivered by Level Crossing Removal Project.bags, montmorency railway station, montmorency station, hurstbridge rail line upgrade

This photo is of the very newly constructed State Electricity Commission town of Mt. Beauty. The houses up to Nelse street were erected from 1946 onward and then the township was extended beyond Nelse Street in 1950 which places this photograph about 1950/51. There is no evidence of work being commenced on the regulating pondage but the tail race canal can be seen on the centre right of photo. The workmen's camp was enlarged in 1950 to the extent of providing accommodation for a total of 1,200. There are a number of dwellings on Simmonds Creek and the road to Falls Creek can clearly be seen. Snow capped Mt. Bogong is in the upper left of the photo with Mt. Beauty behind the township rising to Big Hill beyond that.Shows the newly constructed town of Mt. Beauty surrounded by farmland and before the regulating pondage was built to discharge water from the power stations via the West Kiewa tail race tunnel into the Kiewa River. Black and white photographHand written on back of photograph "Mt. Beauty from Transmission Line"mt. beauty, construction, pondage, state electricity commission

Johnny Broughton, organiser of Annual Christmas Party made toys all year/ all children under 12 received presentstextile mills - staff textile mills - history textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, kidman, mr g. l. broughton, mr john - returned soldiers and sailors mill, textile mills - staff, textile mills - history, textile mills

Janefield Precinct: Old fence line, and retained earth on fence line. The remains of this site are between Greensborough and Janefield. A RAAF Hygiene Training Camp was located on the Plenty River, just south of the Janefield community. It was in use from 1944 to 1946. The Camp was constructed from salvaged materials. Instruction included building and maintenance of grease traps, latrines, elementary plumbing and carpentry.Early remains of a WW2 training camp 2 Digital colour photographs.

Photos of a Christmas Party for junior legatees and the Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group. It appears to have been sponsored by Brumby's bakeries. Location is not known. The children are being given gifts of sleeping bags by Santa Claus. In the first photo is Barbara Leach, a Legacy widow who became a Legatee. It is December 2001 as a similar photo was used for the 2001 Annual Report. The Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group is a dedicated group of young people aged between 18 and 35 years who themselves were Junior Legatees. They organise and conduct events throughout the year for young Junior Legatees. The photos were mounted in an album of events that happened for Junior Legatees in 2001, including a trip to the Aquarium, a trip to Luna Park, horse riding and fishing and a Melbourne Legacy Leadership Group Christmas party. Melbourne Legacy arranged many events for Junior Legatees to experience. A record of the outings provided for Junior Legatees organised by Legacy and by the Leadership Group.Colour photo x 6 of a Christmas Party for Junior Legatees and the Legacy Leadership Group December 2001.Yellow label printed 'Christmas Party 2001'.junior legatee outing, junior legatees, christmas party, leadership

Set of 7 Notice or instructions to Conductors March 1920, advising conductors that checkers will be boarding trams between 7am and 11pm and asking Conductors to give the checker specific information. In relation to the proposed penny sections. Printed on foolscap or quarto duplicated sheets. .1 - St Kilda (Brighton Road) .2 - Esplanade Line .3 - North Carlton Line .4 - Toorak Line .5 - Brunswick Line .6 - Nicholson St Line .7 - Fitzroy Line See Reg Item 3927 for the proposed introduction.trams, tramways, mmtb, fares, cable trams, ticket inspectors

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 British Labour Party It's History, Growth Policy and Leaders Vol 1 Edited by Herbert Tracey Publisher: The Caxton Publishing Company Limited Date: 1948 Label on spine cover with typed text PATT 329.942 BRI Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker 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, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, the british labour party, herbert tracey

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 British Labour Party It's History, Growth Policy and Leaders Vol 2 Edited by Herbert Tracey Publisher: The Caxton Publishing Company Limited Date: 1948 Label on spine cover with typed text PATT 329.942 BRI Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, the british labour party, herbert tracey

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 British Labour Party Its History, Growth Policy and Leaders Vol 3 Edited by Herbert Tracey. Publisher: The Caxton Publishing Company Limited Date: 1948 Label on spine cover with typed text PATT 329.942 BRI Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, the british labour party, herbert tracey