In UK in early 1800's the word 'mechanic' was applied to a broader range of skills such as working man, tradesman or artisan. Mechanics' Institutes were formed originally for voluntary, self-funded organisations, to improve the education of working men and to instruct them on their various trades. The germ of the idea came from a class formed in 1799 by Professor George Birbeck in Glasgow, Scotland, for journeymen mechanics (apprentice trade workers), with the first Institutes being organised in London and Manchester in the 1820's. By then the original aim had broadened and the Mechanics' Institutes were established as popular agencies of adult education. The Mechanics' Institutes were run by committees that provided facilities for a meeting room, hall suitable for lectures, and a library. Funding was raised locally and often supplemented by grants from government agencies for the purchase of books and other resources. Activities were community based. In Australia, Mechanics' Institutes were set up in New South Wales and in Tasmania in the late 1820's. Mechanics' Institutes began in Victoria, with the first one in Melbourne dating from 1839, providing similar services but in time offered services tailored to their specific area. Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853 a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. "These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In q856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fund raising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former court house in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art., and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. In 1975 the original building was demolished and the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: - The new City Library took some of the historic books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. - The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. - The Historic Society has some items - The State Museum has some items - Some items were destroyed - Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed art works and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. NOTE: Pages of this book have been digitally recorded and archived.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. Record Book, Warrnambool Mechanics Institute, Copy of Statements sent to Government, 1910-1912. Hard cover, brown, pages have blue lines with red left margins, edges of pages have marbled pattern.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, warrnambool mechanics' institute, mechanics' institute records warrnambool, record book 1910

This is a photo of Mount Beauty taken from a high vantage point near the hair-pin bend on the Tawonga Gap Road (half way up) in 1954. Mount Beauty was built by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.This photo belonged to Mr & Mrs Gordon White SECV employee and long time residents of Mt Beauty.This is a framed coloured photo of the Mount Beauty Township and main Transmission Line from Mt Beauty to Kiewa. The photo has two transmission lines in the foreground with the Mt Beauty township in the background, but at the foot of Mount Bogong.Approx 1954 / Conroy-Moffatt Pty Ltd / Picture Framer / ..McKillop Street / Tel Mu .. 78 ....mt beauty; transmission line; tawonga gap road; kiewa hydro electric scheme

This ledger contains copies of specifications and accounts dating from 1927 to 1935 with some entries dating from 1950 and 1951. The accounts were issued originally from the office of John William Crawley Junior, a surveyor, architect and engineer in private practice in Warrnambool and also the engineer for the Shire of Warrnambool from 1895 to 1935. His father, brother and son were also engineers, working in that capacity or as Shire Secretary for the Shire of Warrnambool, with the Crawley family recording a total of 132 years of service to the Shire. The Shire of Warrnambool existed from 1863 to 1994. The ledger was passed on to, and used by John Crawley’s son, Rolf, the engineer for the Shire of Warrnambool from 1935 to 1968. It then came into the possession of Michael Hand who took over the private practice of Rolf Crawley in Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society acquired the ledgerThis ledger is of interest as it contains accounts connected to the work of John and Rolf Crawley, Shire of Warrnambool engineers in the early to mid 20th century. The information in the ledger will be of great interest to researchers.This is a hard cover book of 100 pages. The book is bound on the spine with dark red tape. Some of the pages are unused. The pages are ruled with red and blue lines and there are some loose pages. The cover is torn in some places.‘Ledger’ ‘Copies of Specifications’ john william crawley junior, warrnambool, rolf crawley, warrnambool, shire of warrnambool

Aulsebrook Collection: Pamphlet for: - Solemn Consecration and Opening of Chapel of St. Francis at Mounta Alvernia Hospital Bendigo. 27th March, 1971 -A5, white, typed, 33 pages, -music, prayers and lines for those involved

Black and white copy of an artist's drawing showing a man ploughing a field with two horses. One in a series of three. Appears to be a print-out on thin card. Has been cut out along printed lines.Hand written on front: "Ploughman 1875" Artist's signature on front bottom left: "M. Caccianiga."ploughman, historical, farm machinery

Document. Foolscap sheet of paper with one side of handwritten rhyming verse. Thirty six lines of neat handwriting in ink. No title. No Date. Scottish Theme. Possibly written by Alex J Hamilton as a performance script.performing arts, elocution, handwritten verse

Quamby Café viewed from high side of Main Road looking towards Sassafras c1930. Power lines visible and road unmade. Quamby Café built by the Dorey family in 1914. Now the Cuckoo Restaurant.On front - Quamby now "Cuckoo"quamby, quamby cafe, cuckoo, olinda, iris dorey, dorey

Painted by Bianca BiesuzCream card window mount with pink edging lines. Text panel cut out lower edge. Brown wood frame with gold edging. Painting portrays trees with a pathway through them, white bridge,"Dryings Road Bridge"

Copy of sepia photograph in, "Prize Essays," Alfred E. Bennett, c.1894, after p 116. 5 male students working with hoes along lines of vegetable crops in an area bounded by a picket fence.prize essays, alfred e. bennett, students working outside, orchard, vegetables

From the home of Mrs Wilms. Large jugs were used in bedrooms to contain water for washing oneself. Many had a large basin underneath it too, but this one doesn't.Large white porcelain bedroom jug with pink and white flowers and green leaves. Fine gold lines are around the top and bottom of the jug and on the ornate handle. Numbers 2266 - 2 are painted underneath the bottom of the jug.2266 - 2 painted underneath the bottom of jugjugs, bedroom jugs, domestic object, functional object

R Bell was a company based in London. They decided to open a factory in Richmond, Melbourne in 1894/5 to produce wax tipped vestas (matches).10 cylindrical matchboxes. On the lid the name R.Bell & Co. Melbourne with a red ornate cross in the middle. 6 of the boxes contains matches, 4 are empty. On the cylinders lines in different colours. from George Harris estateephemera, mementoes, match box

The BSO logo was created in 2021, The icon is a stylised shape inspired by three key elements: - the movement of the hand, or baton of the conductor, - the shape of the stringed instruments, - and the five lines of a musical staff. This logo was designed by Kristen Beever.

Sign titled "Trams to Elsternwick" giving details of the first and last trams for Weekdays, Saturdays and Sunday. Sign was located at the Point Ormond terminus. See Note for donor's comment. Painted sheet metal sign, approx. 2mm thick with 3 holes each top and bottom, front painted in white, with red lines and black letters. Rear painted in a yellow metal primer and then a brown paint. trams, tramways, point ormond, signs, elsternwick

Provided a detailed map of Melbourne's public transport, route number list and brief description. Has contact details for bookings and lost property etc. Priced 20c, published 1979 as map No. 9Demonstrates the methodology of providing map and transport information at the time.Fold out map (27 sections 9 across x 3 deep), coloured of Melbourne's Tram and Bus routes, route numbers, rail lines, detailed for the central part of Melbourne and insert section for Frankston. melbourne, map, tram and bus services, railways, mmtb, ministry of transport

This photograph depicts the style of uniform worn by the Trained nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) at that time. It shows part of a Cable Tram being the type of Public transport used by the Trained nurses to visit their patients. This group of Trained nurses are about to board trams to commence their visits to MDNS patients who require nursing care in their homes.District Nursing has had various modes of transport over the last 130 years. At first, from 1885 as Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), their Trained Nurses walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of central Melbourne. As the Society expanded public transport was used, and bicycles were bought by the Society in 1903 and used in inner areas until 1955. During the Spanish flu epidemic, in 1919, MDNS appealed for assistance to procure Motor vehicles so the Nurses could visit an influx of cases. Through trusts, grants and donations four 'Ford 'T Model' cars were procured which enabled the nurses to triple their visits. Through constant use the cars were in such a poor state they were sold in 1927. A Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 to take Nurses to patients, and some nurses used their own cars; even a motorcycle was used by one nurse in 1933. All these forms of transport were intermingled until, having received Royal patronage; the now Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had its own full fleet of vehicles.A slightly fuzzy black and white photograph which shows six Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Sisters standing at a tram stop wearing uniforms of full length coats and grey brimmed hats bearing a Maltese cross insignia on the hat band. Each Sister is carrying a square nursing case with a thick handle on the top. Part of a Cable tram, with a 'Spencer Street' sign attached to the top, is on the right of the photograph. Two of the Sisters are about to board the tram. Four Sisters are standing by the 'tram stop' sign. A line of leafless tree are seen behind the Sisters, and white terraced houses are in the background.public transport, mdns, uniforms, melbourne district nursing society, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns transport

When motorists completely ignore a road sign, it's time to hammer the message home. Double white lines in Were Street Montmorency are a deterrent to crossing the road to a carpark on the other side.News article 1 page, black text.banyule city council, road rules, were street montmorency, car parking

Folded full colour pamphlet, titled "National Express Group - Key Contacts" providing information on the personnel and their position along with telephone numbers for the National Express group - buses, trains, trams, V/Line. Gives details of the Executive Office, Trains, finance, sales and marketing, tram and bus, engineering, human resources and commercial. Published by M>Tram is a former tram operating company of half of Melbourne's tramway network. Part of the National Express Group, it was created with the rebranding of Swanston Trams in October 2001,[1] and was absorbed into Yarra Trams on 18 April 2004. (From Wikipedia page accessed 8/3/13). Also related to M>Train. National Express part of the Kennett Government franchise - commenced 1999, handed back to Government - Dec. 2002 - The Age December 17, 2002, but it was not until 2004 that the M>Tram name formally disappeared.trams, tramways, national express, m>tram, v/line, personnel, organisational structure

This poster, published by the State Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, depicts Lieutenant Albert JACKA, VC, as a role model for a huge campaign to enlist sportsmen into the Australian Imperial Force in 1917. Jacka achieved instant fame back home when he became the first Australian to win the Victoria Cross during the First World War. It was said that one of the reasons he was such a good soldier, and had such a fighting attitude, was that he had been a boxer before the war. The campaign to enlist sportsmen was fuelled by a strong belief that by playing sport young men developed specific skills and qualities that could be used on the battlefield.Representative of two common recruiting devices used in Australia, a well-known local soldier and a target number of men required for a specially named group.Depicts Lieutenant Albert Jacka, VC, as a role model for a huge campaign to enlist sportsmen. Surrounding Jacka are colourful depictions of healthy young men engaged in a variety of sports: football, rowing, cricket, tennis and golf are amongst the sports.Full Text: Enlist in the Sportsmen's Thousand, Join Together, Train Together, Embark Together, Fight Together, Show the enemy what Australian sporting men can do.albert jacka, ww1, poster

25cm x 20cm black and white photograph of South-West Sydney Street. The buildings that can be seen include Kilmore Timber Yard, Riche Fitzgerald & Co Builders Ironmoncery, Red Lion Hotel. Pictured are people standing under the awning of the Ironmongers. Picture was taken in 1860. This picture is a copy from LaTrobe.Written on the back: Kilmore Historical Society #4.#5.10/86-33 Copy LaTr. 1860 Trainor's Store etc. looking south-west from Union St.shopfronts, storefronts, retail stores, 19th century

Souvenir Card with photographs of Attrill – Performing DogsSouvenir card of Performing DogsSouvenir of Performing Dogs Trained by Mrs. Ross Attrill Short Street Stawell, Vic. "on the other side" (Dog on left side) "Aussie" (Dog on right side) "Rex"stawell

Advice that the 1992 Eltham Festival Committee has chartered a steam train for the festival and proposal for the coordination of activities to historical places, 90 years after the first steam train to Eltham.1992, eltham festival, gina wilson, steam train

Letter to John Wilson from Colin Trumble accompanying an agreement between the Association and Mrs Parkins over the 'Last Line' competition and advising of taking additional precautions to ensure its success. 2 page typed letter in response to queryOn top left hand side: Malleson Stewart & Co Solicitors & Notaries Tom Compson Trumble Roy James Mc Arthur Herbert Fitzgerald Walsh Richard Francis Maplestone Clark Frank Stewart Dethridge Ross Morton Macdonald Maxwell Rupert Ham Peter Campbell Trumble Colin Campbell Trumble William Gerson Shmith Roy Ernest Ricker Bernard James Walter Sydney Bruce Powell Telephones 61 3431 (8 lines) 62 3594 (4 lines) 62 3111 (3 lines) Telegraphic & Cable Address: Mallesons, Melbourne On the top right hand side: 105 King Street Melbourne C.1. Victoriaassociation for the blind, fundraising, john wilson, emma parkins

This beautiful costume was the 'going-away' dress worn by Mrs John Russell at her wedding in c.1884. It has been passed down through the Russell family and was donated by her grand-daughter Mrs David Nixon. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area. This full length female costume is made of moroon satin with gold velvet inserts. It has a small train at the back, scalloped folds with lace edging down the front of the skirt, and two rows of 14 buttons each down the bodice.going-away-dress 1890s-dress