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 Isles of The Pacific or Sketches from the South Seas Author: B Francis Publisher: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co Date: 1882Label on spine cover with typed text RH 919.6 FRA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library 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 isles of the pacific, sketches from the south seas, b francis

430 pp. on art paper. approx 60 illustrations, photos, sketches, all B&W. Extensive appendices according to the trades the ships engaged in. Long index, examples of log entries, mapsnon-fictionFrom the Preface: "In this book I have attempted to give some account of the beautiful sailing ships which played so great a part in the development of the great British Dominions under the Southern Cross. It is written specially for the officers and seamen of our Mercantile Marine, and I have endeavoured to avoid such a criticism as the following:—“Heaps about other ships, but my old barkey was one of the fastest and best known of them all and he dismisses her with a line or two.” I have made rather a point of giving passage records, as they are an everlasting theme of interest when seamen get together and yarn about old ships. The memory is notoriously unreliable where sailing records are concerned, so I have been most careful to check these from logbooks and Captains’ reports. Even Lloyd’s I have found to be out by a day or two on occasions. A great deal of my material has been gathered bit by bit through the past 25 or 30 years. Alas! many of the old timers, who so kindly lent me abstract logs and wrote me interesting letters, have now passed away. The illustrations, I hope, will be appreciated, for these,viii whether they are old lithographs or more modern photographs, are more and more difficult to unearth, and a time will soon come when they will be unprocurable. Indeed, if there is any value in this book it is because it records and illustrates a period in our sea history, the memory of which is already fast fading into the misty realms of the past. To preserve this memory, before it becomes impossible, is one of the main objects, if not the main object, of my work."clippers, basil lubbock, loch vennachar, loch gary, loch ryan, loch sloy ship, hobsons bay, mermerus

One of a collection of photographs and drawings donated by Mr J. W. Gliddon and used in his book "Phillip Island in Picture and Story"An early drawing of the McHaffie homestead, possibly by J. B. Henderson during the 1860's. Although unfinished it is probably an accurate portrayal."An early sketch of the McHaffie homestead" "Incomplete parts shown in pencil. Probably the most truthful record extant. J. W. G." "John David McHaffie."mchaffie homestead, phillip island, mr. j. w. gliddon

This demijohn was made for Sharpe Bros., brewers of non- alcoholic drinks such as Dandelion Ale, ginger beer and cordial. Sharpe Bros began in New Zealand and expanded to Australia in the early 20th century. The company was taken over by Cadbury Schweppes in 1972. The likely manufacturer of this demijohn was Hoffman's Pottery of Brunswick.This item was recovered from the abandoned barn of the Pope family in 1971, when the property was sold to the Shire of Diamond Valley. This barn was located on the northern side of Pope Place and sketched by Ron Reynolds for the book "Greensborough and Greenhills".Glazed stoneware jar with dark brown glaze to top, narrow threaded neck with wire handle. Stopper missing.Transfer text on front: "This jar is the absolute property of and must be returned to Sharpe Bros. Australia and New Zealand"sharpe bros., hoffman pottery, stoneware jars

This is an unmarked earthenware storage jar possibly made by the Hoffman's Pottery of Brunswick Victoria. It displays a dark treacle glaze typical of Hoffman's Pottery in the 1930s. this jar would have been used to store foods such as biscuits, flour or rice away from rodent attack. it has a wide mouth to enable easy withdrawal of produce. Originally it would have had a large cork stopper or cloth fastened with a string to seal it.This item was recovered from the abandoned barn of the Pope family in 1971, when the property was sold to the Shire of Diamond Valley. This barn was located on the northern side of Pope Place and sketched by Ron Reynolds for the book "Greensborough and Greenhills".Glazed stoneware jar with dark treacle glaze to top, wide neck. Stopper missing.hoffman pottery, stoneware jars

This is an unmarked earthenware storage jar possibly made by the Hoffman's Pottery of Brunswick Victoria. It displays a dark treacle glaze typical of Hoffman's Pottery in the 1930s. this jar would have been used to store foods such as biscuits, flour or rice away from rodent attack. it has a wide mouth to enable easy withdrawal of produce. Originally it would have had a large cork stopper or cloth fastened with a string to seal it.This item was recovered from the abandoned barn of the Pope family in 1971, when the property was sold to the Shire of Diamond Valley. This barn was located on the northern side of Pope Place and sketched by Ron Reynolds for the book "Greensborough and Greenhills".Glazed stoneware jar with light treacle glaze to top, wide neck. Stopper missing.hoffman pottery, stoneware jars

The Caretaker's Residence, Yan Yean Reservoir. Sketch by Jenny Meldrum; from Yan Yean: a history by Dianne Edwards. 1 p. black and white copy of page from bookyan yean reservoir, yan yean

A soft cover book of 352 pages; supp. pages xviii. Author: Bill Coffey. The title is printed in black on a yellowish cream cover with an illustration of a hand holding a cross.non-fictionAutobiography bill coffey, chaplain, freemantle mission to seamen, port melbourne mission to seamen, missions in mid 20thc, reverend hubert william coffey (1915-2002), ww2, world war 2, 1939-1945, pmhps, pat grainger

Sketches of historic building from around AustraliaRecords notable Australian buildings358pages. Illustrated with line sketches. Hard cover, green. Dust jacket contains sketch of old house near Toowoomba Qld on front and sketch of old jewellery shop in Charters Towers Qld on back cover.Name and address of owner on two pages (W. A. Partington/Alan Partington)partington-family historic-buildings wendy-norris keith-norris

The Shire of Eltham was a Local Government Area located about 25 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The shire covered an area of 277.13 square kilometres and existed from 1856 until 1994.Annual guide to services in Shire of Eltham72 pages, illus. Front cover has a copy of a sketch "Frogmouths" by Margo Kroyer Pederson on dark green cover. Printed on recycled paper.eltham, shire of eltham, handbooks

20 year anniversary of Yallambie Primary School. Book also details the establishment of Yallambie as a suburb from early farms to the Simpson Barracks and A.V.Jennings estate, Yallambie Rise.A snapshot history of Yallambie.Soft cover book, 82 pages, black and white illus, maps throughout. White cover with green writing and sketch of a tree.Inside cover in pencil: Noel Withersyallambie, yallambie primary school, simpson barracks, a v jennings, yallambie rise

Diamond Valley Sketchbook, written by Brian McKinlay with drawings by Graham Hawley. Cover the area surrounding the Diamond Valley from Heidelberg to Mernda.A sketch book featuring landmarks around the Diamond Valley area in 1973. Many of these no longer exist.A 63 page hard back book with a map of the area covered by the book printed in blue in the inner covers. Three copies have a dust jacket printed in blue with title details, whilst the actual book cover lacks any detail. 4 copies.Some pencil markings in the inside cover.diamond valley, griffin house, rosehill, austin hospital, banyule house, trestle bridge eltham, shillinglaw cottage, montsalvat, old england hotel, eltham primary school, sweeney's cottage, pound bend tunnel, weller's pub, the eltham barrel, hassall's gallery, st katherine's chapel, yan yean reservoir, mernda hotel

Information and sketches of 29 Victorian country hotels.64 p., illus.hotels

Information about Western Victorian goldfields towns, including Ballarat, with sketches.64 p., illus.ballarat, victorian goldfields

Information about Carlton and Parkville, with sketches.63 p., illus.carlton, parkville

The sketch portrayed is by Ron Reynolds and was printed the book "Greensborough and Greenhills" in 1973. This is a Christmas greeting to Jessie Angus (nee Partington).The Rand St Swing bridge allowed easy access to Greensborough railway station and shops for those who lived on the eastern side of the Plenty River.A white greeting card made from stiffened card and folded at the left side.A personal greeting to Jessie Angus (nee Partington)written on both inside pages.ron reynolds, jessie angus, partington, rand st, swing bridge, plenty river

Black leather bound board covers. Embossed title and oval logo for publisher on front cover. Orange sketch of altar (?) on back fly leaf, recto. Embossed line borders on both covers.

Illustrations and description of sites within Greensborough and Greenhills: by Irene Turvey and Ron ReynoldsNow out of print, this book is an important record of the Greensborough and Greenhills areas. Copy 2 is signed by author and illustrator.Hard cover, 62 p., illustrated with pen and ink sketches.Copy 1: stamps with Eastern Metropolitan Library. Copy 2 signed by author and illustrator.greensborough, greenhills, irene turvey, ron reynolds

This is the story of Greensborough Uniting Church's first 150 years 1850-2000. The church's first services were held in Maygar's barn and later moved to the Methodist Church in Main Street. In the 1960s the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were merged to form the Uniting Church. This is the history of the early churches and the Uniting Church in the late 20th century.This is a detailed history of these churches in Greensborough and is illustrated with many old photos of historical interest.Paperback book, 58 p., illus. Cover depicts a sketch of 'Maygars's barn' by Denise Klinger. 2 copiesuniting church greensborough, lindsay mann, greensborough methodist church, greensborough presbyterian church