Unfortunately we do not know who donated this book to the Warrnambool & District Historical Society and so we do not know the identity of C.M.B or S.A.B. S.A. Burtt is listed as a Timor Street grocer in 1856 and as a Director of the Western District Fishing Company (1858-9). Was he the S.A.B. who gave the book to his sister in 1854? The fact that we have the book indicates that perhaps C.M.B. also came to settle in Victoria at a later date.This is a very attractive little prayer book and remains for us a fascinating relic of 19th century migration to Victoria. It will be even more valuable if we ever discover the identity of the giver and receiver of the book.This is a hard cover leather- bound book. The book contains a Contents page, a Preface and the Common Prayers of the Church of England together with the Psalms of David. The spine has gold lettering and the cover is edged and reinforced with gold-coloured metal and there is a gold ornamental metal clasp which is affixed with small nails to the front and back covers and which closes over the pages. The pages are gilt-edged. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in blue ink and there is a loose sheet which is a printed prayer for the Governor and the Council and another loose piece of blue ribbon used as a marker. The spine of the book is slightly rubbed. There are some indecipherable pencil markings on the back page. ‘To C. M. B. A farewell gift from a brother to his sister on his sailing for Victoria From S.A.B.1854’ 19th century migration to victoria history of warrnambool

This book has been written by Edward Vidler (1863-1942), a publisher, editor, writer and journalist. He was born in England and was in Geelong in the 1880s where he produced a commemorative volume on that city. He was living in Warrnambool in the early years of the 20th century and was the Secretary of the Warrnambool and District Progress League and the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He later lived in Melbourne where he edited magazines and published his own and other writings. He was especially interested in the promotion of the arts and was a keen naturalist. He was a foundation member of the group that established the Maranoa Native Gardens in Balwyn, Melbourne. The writer of this book, Edward Vidler, was important in the history of Warrnambool for two main reasons:- 1. In 1907 he initiated and organized the establishment of the Warrnambool Pioneer Honour Board featuring portraits of 204 pioneer men. This board still exists. 2. In 1907 he produced a publication called ‘Warrnambool Past and Present – Sixty Years of Progress’. It celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of Warrnambool and contained 88 pages, 120 illustrations and photographs and many advertisements. The publication is noted for its historical accuracy, the way it complements and adds to Richard Osburne’s 1887 history of Warrnambool and its presentation of historical material that may otherwise have been lost. Both of Vidler’s initiatives described above are of the utmost importance in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 270 pages. The cover is green with black printed material on the covers and the spine. The book has a Preface, 24 chapters of text and a Bibliography. There are advertisements for other books on the last page and the back cover. The cover is stained and faded and partly torn in places and some of the inside pages are stained. The Australian Debateredward vidler, history of warrnambool

This book, a sequel to ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’ by Henry Frith, was a prize given to Frank Ward in 1901. His school, the Warrnambool Academy, was established in 1899 by Richard Lawson and William Oakley and was eventually situated at ‘Upton’ in Canterbury Road, Warrnambool. The Academy later incorporated the former Scott’s Warrnambool College and Stanley’s Warrnambool Grammar School. This private school closed in 1911. William Oakley later joined the Victorian Education Department and Richard Lawson had a distinguished academic career in teacher education in Melbourne and New Zealand. No details are available on Frank Ward. This is a hard cover book of 295 pages. The cover is dark blue with gold printing and ornamental gold borders on the front cover and spine. The book has an introductory chapter, 28 chapters of story and an Epilogue. In the back pages there are lists of other books published by Ward, Lock and Co. The book contains many black and white illustrations. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society and on the first page a flyleaf from the Warrnambool Academy printed with gold print and borders and with handwriting in black ink. The cover is slightly faded and marked. ‘Warrnambool Academy, Labore et Fide, First Prize awarded to Frank Ward for Latin, Principals, Richard Lawson M.A. & W.M. Oakley. 17/12/1901’ warrnambool academy, richard lawson, william oakley, frank ward, history of warrnambool

This is a book given to Clive Cust in 1926 as a prize from the Dennington Presbyterian Sabbath School. The Dennington Presbyterian Church opened in Drummond Street in 1914, moved to Lindsay Street in 1951 and closed in 1968. A Sunday School at this church would have been operating during this time. The Cust families were pioneer settlers in the Warrnambool district. A Clive Cyril Cust was born to Alex and Annie Cust in 1914 in Warrnambool and it is presumed that he was the owner of this book. This is an interesting book as it is one of the few items we have connected to the Dennington Presbyterian Church. It is also of interest as a good example of the type of reading material favoured by young boys in the 1920s.This is a hard cover book of 196 pages. The cover is dark green with gold lettering on the front cover and on the spine and a colour sketch of a hunter and a lion on the front cover and a colour sketch of a fireman on the spine. There are several colour and black and white plates throughout the book. There are several pages at the back of the book of lists of books available from the Religious Tract Society, London. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in black ink. The cover is slightly marked and faded.‘Dennington, Presbyterian Sabbath School, Prize awarded to Clive Cust, Jan. 1926’ clive cust, dennington presbyterian church, history of warrnambool

This is a book given as a prize to Allan Scarfe in 1942 when he was in Form One at Warrnambool High School. Allan Scarfe, spelled ‘Alan’ in the book inscription, died in 2016. He was a teacher at Warrnambool High School/College for a great number of years and was an author of note. He wrote several works of non-fiction in conjunction with his wife, Wendy, and several novels, mostly crime fiction.This book is of interest because it belonged to Allan Scarfe, a resident of Warrnambool for many years, well-known as a teacher and a writer. It is also of interest as an example of the type of reading material favoured by young boys in the 1940s. This is a hard cover book of 224 pages. The cover is blue with black print on the front cover and spine and a sketch of a sailor on the spine. The dust cover is multi-coloured with sketches of scouts on the front cover and on the spine. The dust cover is ragged at the edges and torn at the bottom part of the spine. The dust cover also has lists of books published by Blackie’s Books. The book has several black and white plates scattered throughout the pages. The inscription on the first page is hand written in black ink. ‘Form 1, Warrnambool High School, 1942, Prize awarded to Alan Scarfe for 7th in Form, gift of Mr G.W. Clarke, R.W.Andrews, B.Sc., B.Ed. Headmaster.’ allan scarfe, warrnambool high school

This book has been written by Walter Murdoch and it is the publication of two lectures given by Murdoch in 1937 (the John Murtagh Macrossan Memorial Lectures). John Murtagh Macrossan (1833-1891) was a Queensland politician who for some time held the seat of Townsville in the Queensland Parliament. He was born in Ireland and came to Australia in 1853, spending some time in the mining regions of Queensland. With Samuel Griffith he attended the first National Convention on Federation in 1891. Walter Murdoch (1874-1970) had a distinguished academic career and became Australia’s best-known essayist. He was a household name to two generations of Australians through his radio broadcasts and syndicated literary columns in several Australian newspapers. In 1901 Walter Murdoch came to Warrnambool and went into partnership with James Scott as proprietors of a private school, Warrnambool College. They bought out Stanley’s Warrnambool Grammar School and when Scott retired Murdoch became the sole proprietor and Head Master of Warrnambool College. While in Warrnambool in 1903 Murdoch wrote a school history book called ‘The Struggle for Freedom’, a book which sold 10,000 copies in its first year. Murdoch later became an English lecturer at Melbourne University and then the foundation Professor of English at the University of Western Australia. Murdoch University in Western Australia is named after him. He published over 40 books and he was knighted in 1964. This book is of interest as it was written by Walter Murdoch. He not only has a national reputation as an academic and writer but also he spent some time in Warrnambool and played his part in our history. This is a soft cover book of 66 pages. The cover was originally blue but is much faded, especially on the spine. The print on the cover and spine is dark blue and there is an ornamental edging on the front cover. The back of the cover has an advertisement for other Walter Murdoch books. The pages of the book are stained and the binding on the spine has broken away. walter murdoch, john murtagh macrossan, history of warrnambool, warrnambool college (early 20th century)

This plate comes from the Registered Office of F. Morse Pty Ltd. The name ‘Morse’ has been associated with the local Warrnambool transport industry for more than 100 years from the horse-drawn era to the advent of motorized transport. Frederick Morse was the son of Henry Morse, a teacher at The Grange, Hamilton and at Grasmere in the early 1870s. In 1883 Frederick Morse started business in Fairy Street as a coach builder in a partnership known as Robinson and Morse and in 1891 he set up a business on his own, the Victoria Carriage Works in Lava Street with branches in Port Fairy and Koroit. By the 1890s he was employing 27 people and winning State awards for his Abbot buggies. By the 1920s the Morse business had moved to motorized transport, expanding over the years to car dealerships, caravans, panel works and reconditioning and truck building with the subsidiary businesses of Morsmilk and Morsbearings (both later sold).This plate is of strong significance as a memento of a business in Warrnambool that has been prominent in the local transport industry for 120 years. It is also a memento of the Morse family, notable 19th century settlers in the town and important in local community affairs since that time. This is a wooden frame with a glass front. The frame is painted a grey colour and has holes at the top and bottom for affixing the frame to a wall or door. Behind the glass the words ‘Registered Office F. Morse Pty Ltd’ are painted or incised on to a wooden slab. The words are in yellow and red paint. The frame is a little chipped and the inside of the glass is somewhat blotchy and stained. ‘Registered Office’ ‘F. Morse Pty Ltd’ frederick morse, robinson and morse, morse & co., history of warrnambool, coach building in warrnambool, automotive industry in warrnambool

The building to which this tablet was attached was erected in 1890 as the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace. It was at the corner of Koroit and Kepler Streets in Warrnambool and was the most splendid edifice ever erected in Warrnambool. Initially it was a Temperance Hotel but in 1891 it gained a colonial wine licence. Thomas Randall was the lessee and proprietor of the building from 1894 to 1907 and from 1895 on it was called the Ozone Hotel. Mrs Lillias Euphemia Thom was the proprietor from 1907 to 1910. The tablet described herein has her name incised on the tablet ‘L.E.Thom’. The hotel was closed in 1915 and re-opened in 1920 with the new name of Hotel Mansions. The proprietor at that time was Howard Lawson. In 1923 Hotel Mansions gained a full hotel licence but in 1929 the building was destroyed by fire. The present day Hotel Warrnambool now occupies the site of the Hotel Mansions. This tablet is of great significance as it is an important memento of the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace/Ozone Hotel/Hotel Mansions. This building was the most elegant building ever to be erected in Warrnambool and, as such, a reminder of the type of luxury accommodation offered to visitors to Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a time when Warrnambool was promoted as a spa resort with hot and cold sea baths and bracing sea breezes. The marble tablet is an indication of the splendor of the hotel’s furnishings and accoutrements. This is a rectangular marble slab with incised gold lettering (now somewhat faded). The bottom lettering is contained in a slight groove in the marble. There are four holes at each corner and six smaller holes along the edges of the tablet for attachment by screws to a building. The slab has some staining and a little rust. ‘Ozone Hotel’ ‘L.E.Thom’ grand ozone coffee palace (warrnambool), ozone hotel (warrnambool), hotel mansions, history of warrnambool, lillias thom

This item is linked to the 'HMAS Encounter', possibly made on the ship c. 1913. In 1916 this ship visited a then unnamed island off the Western Australian coast, where the crew discovered two bronze cannons protruding from the sand. These cannons now in the WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle, have been linked to the "Mahogany Ship" legend by historian K.G. MacIntyre. Cribbage is a very popular card game, particularly with naval personnel. This cribbage score board belonged to Alexander Charles Forsyth who used it aboard H.M.A.S. Encounter in 1913. He was a stoker, service number 3086, from New South Wales. H.M.A.S Encounter, the fourth warship of that name, was built at Devonport Dockyard, Tasmania, for the Royal Australian Navy in 1905. She was a second class protected cruiser and in 1909 was lent for three years to the British Admiralty. In 1913 (the year marked on this cribbage board) she was in New South Wales and Queensland waters and in World War One she served in the Pacific region, taking part in the capture of German New Guinea. She was finally scuttled in 1932.Social significance: an example of leisure activities in early C20th. Historical significance: link to "Mahogany Ship" legend through H.M.A.S. Encounter. This is an interesting item with social significance as cribbage was a popular game, particularly in the 20th century, and it illustrates the pastimes of a generation past. It was given to Warrnambool and District Historical Society by a Wangoom couple and so may have local significance if A.C. Forsyth was related to this couple. H.M.A.S. Encounter was important in Australia’s naval history. Rectangular brass plate with rows of holes, grouped in tens. Plate mounted with 5 brass studs to a rectangular wooden base. 134 holes in brass, grouped in tens. Three holes in each end of wooden base. Board used for scoring made out of brass for game of cribbage Burnished gold on playing surface Reddish-brown on base 144 main indentations, 10 minor indentations Machine engraved "A.C. Forsyth" (in script)/ "1913"/ "H.M.A.S. ENCOUNTER" across middle of the plate, between the rows of holes. brass, ships, leisure, royal australian navy, cribbage board, games, mahogany ship, a s forsythe, encounter, alexander charles forsyth, warrnambool

The Falls of Halladale was a four-masted iron-hulled barque built for the long-distance bulk carrier trade. In dense fog on the night of 14 November 1908 she was sailed onto rocks off Peterborough due to a navigational error. The 29 crew abandoned ship safely and reached shore by boat. The ship was left foundering with sails unfurled. For weeks afterwards large crowds gathered to view the ship as she gradually broke up and sank in the shallow water. Shortly after the accident the ship's master, Captain Thomson, faced a Court of Marine Enquiry in Melbourne. He was found guilty of a gross act of misconduct, having carelessly navigated the ship, neglected to take proper soundings and failing to place the ship on a port tack before it became too late to avoid shipwreck. Thomson's punishment included a small fine and six months suspension of his Master's Certificate of Competency. The hull lies on its starboard side about 300 metres off-shore in 3-15 metres of water. The original cargo included 56,763 roofing slates and coils of barbed wire. 22,000 slates were salvaged in the 1980s and used as roofing at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool.This item has historical significance as it came from one of the known shipwrecks along the South West coast of Victoria. There are a number of photographs of the wreck as it founded on the rock and hence is an image with which many people are familiar. Curved piece of timber with flat base from the wreck of the ship Falls of Halladale. Inside is recessed with slight ledge near back. A chunk of timber is missing on the top. The face has swirled carvings with leaf and seed design and base curved to the edge.Hand painted in red paint on inside bottom edge 'PETERBOROUGH'. Hand painted in white paint on bottom 'FALLS OF HALLADALE/WRECKED/PETERBOROUGH/VIC/NOV. 1908'melbourne, shipwrecks, flagstaff hill maritime village, warrnambool, falls of halladale, barques, peterborough victoria, roofing slates, captain thomson, thomson, court of marine enquiry

The personal 'carry-all', a cloth apron like article was utilised by Thomas Hamilton Osborne in his work with the Warrnambool Steamship Navigation Company. He was Company manager in 1883 until its dissolution in 1899. Osborne wrote many articles on early Warrnambool, particularly maritime material under the name of " Sliding Gunter". When he died he was buried at sea off the breakwater.His sister Mrs Annabella Kell is thought to have made this article.This is a significant item as T.H.Osborne was a key figure in 19th Century Warrnambool history, particularly in maritime affairs. Six sided, scalloped edges, four pockets, two metal hooks, purple woven fabric with yellow and gold embroidery, lifebuoy outline with W.S.N.Co and THO initials embroidered and two flags. Machine sewing of pockets and tab to base apron.W.S.N.Co THO initials on top of each other Two metal hookswork apron, warrnambool steamship navigation company, wsnc, thomas hamilton tracey osborne, annabella kell, sliding gunter

The Ozone Hotel, formerly the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace, was erected in 1890 at a cost of around ten thousand pounds at the corner of Kepler and Koroit streets by a company of local business men and leased out. Coffee Palaces were temperance hotels, which were popular in the latter part of the 19th century and offered recreation and superior accommodation. In 1891, the Coffee Palace was granted a wine licence. In 1895, Thomas Randall was the proprietor of the building and it was renamed the Ozone Hotel. The coffee palace operated until 1915 and was then closed before re-opening in 1920 as Hotels Mansions. It had major renovations including a large theatre area. February 23rd 1929 saw the most spectacular fire in Warrnambool's history when the Hotel Mansions was burnt to the ground. Evelyn O'Brien was granted a temporary licence and in September 1930 she was given permission to rebuild. The new hotel named Hotel Warrnambool was opened in March 1931. This cup is a remnant of the Ozone Hotel.The Ozone Coffee Palace and later the Ozone Hotel Hotel Mansions was a significant grand building in Warrnambool. The destruction by fire in February 1929 was a major loss to the town. This cup, although damaged, is of considerable importance as it is one of the few surviving objects from the Ozone Hotel. The cup provides a link to this important part of Warrnambool's history.Tea cup with broken handle, 3 lines near the rim. The two finer our lines are dark green and the thicker, middle line is dark red with a scrolled banner motif - Ozone Warrnambool Hotel in sienna colour. The cup has a crack on the side and some staining. There is significant crazing of the glaze. The cup has potentially been damaged by fire.Ozone Warrnambool Hotelgrand ozone coffee palace, warrnambool, ozone cup

The Ozone Hotel was formerly the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace which was erected in 1890 at a cost of around ten thousand pounds. Coffee Palaces were temperance hotels which were popular in the latter part of the 19th century which offered recreation and superior accommodation. The coffee palace operated until 1915 and was then closed before re-opening in 1920 as Hotels Mansions. It had major renovations including a large theatre area. February 23rd 1929 saw the most spectacular fire in Warrnambool's history when the Hotel mansions was burnt to the ground. Evelyn O'Brien was granted a temporary licence and in September 1930 she was given permission to rebuild. The new hotel named Hotel Warrnambool was opened in March 1931. This item has local significance having come from one of Warrnambool's grandest buildingsSide Plate with Hotel Mansions crest in black, with Warrnambool in banner underneath and a black line around rim of plate. Loftus Moran Pty Ltd Melbourne stamp on back (distributor?)Hotel Mansions crest on front of plate, with Warrnambool in banner underneath.grand ozone coffee palace, hotel mansions warrnambool, ozone hotel warrnambool, warrnambool

This plate was presented in 1900 to a Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie, on the occasion of his marriage to Maud Taylor. It was recovered from the fire which destroyed the Hotel Mansions building in Warrnambool in 1929. This building was opened in 1890 as the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace (a temperance hotel). It was at the corner of Koroit and Kepler Streets. In 1891 the Coffee Palace was granted a wine licence and in 1895 it was re-named the Ozone Hotel. The building was closed in 1915 and re-opened in 1920 as the Hotel Mansions. In 1923 the Hotel Mansions became a fully-licensed hotel and in 1929 it was destroyed by fire. The present-day Hotel Warrnambool was built on the site. William Ardlie, the son of a pioneer Warrnambool settler, John Ardlie, began practising as a lawyer in Warrnambool in the mid 1860s and dominated the legal scene in Warrnambool, continuing on his practice until he was over 80. He and his second wife, Maud, were occupying an apartment in the Hotel Mansions when it was destroyed by fire and this plate is a relic of the fire. The Warrnambool Bowling Club which presented the plate to William Ardlie, was established early in the 1890s and William Ardlie was an enthusiastic supporter and one-time office bearer.This plate is of great significance as it was one of the few items that still exist that was recovered from the 1929 Hotel Mansions fire and its story contains so much of Warrnambool’s history with its connections to:- 1. The story of the Hotel Mansions, the grandest building ever erected in Warrnambool 2. The story of William Ardlie, a dominant figure in the legal world in Warrnambool for over 60 years 3. The story of the Warrnambool Bowls Club, still existing today. This is a silver plate with an oval base with an inside ring and a rim of scroll patterning. The recessed edges of the plate are highly ornamented with scrolls and flower patterning. Parts of the edge of the plate are missing and jagged as this plate has been in a major fire. On the base of the plate are three silver studs for the plate to rest on a surface. The fourth stud is missing. On the rim of the plate are two small projections, suggesting the plate originally had a handle. On the base of the plate is an inscription.‘Presented by the members of the Warrnambool Bowling Club to William Ardlie Esq.re (ex President) on the occasion of his WEDDING, 10th January 1900.’ grand ozone coffee palace/ozone hotel/ hotel mansions, warrnambool, william ardlie, warrnambool bowls club, history of warrnambool

Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchell in 1861 and took the stage name of Melba after her home town of Melbourne. Dame Nellie went on to become one of the most successful and highly regarded sopranoes of the late 19th a nd early 20th centuries. She had a number of Farewell tours as she neared the end of her career. When Dame Nellie Melba was a house guest of Miss Florence Lake at "Lyndoch" Warrnambool during her farewell tour in 1927. The bag was purported to have been given to a house maid in recognition of favours done. An item owned by Dame Nellie Melba............ WDHS also has a program from Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tour.Ladies evening purse "Made in France" Beige/ecru silk on canvas backing, heavily beaded and sequinned in beige and coffee, some pearl decoration, with an ornate enamelled button closure mechanism for a press stud. Two fabric handles also heavily beaded. A scalloped shape with gusseted side insertions.Bag is too fragile to open.nellie melba, evening bag, warrnambool, lyndoch warrnambool, florence lake, warrnambool

David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) was a travelling hawker who opened a business in Liebig Street, Warrnambool in 1924. In 1931 he opened The Man's Shop at the corner of Liebig Street and Koroit Street. He sold suits and overcoats tailored in the work rooms upstairs. In 1948 his factory known as Pleasant Hill was opened in Flaxman Street in Warrnambool, the site of an old quarry. In 1951 the company Fletcher Jones and Staff was formed with the staff owning 51% of the shares, By the 1970s Fletcher Jones and Staff had become one of the largest clothing companies in Australia with 55 shops and 3000 employees. In 1992 the Warrnambool City Council bought the factory and gardens with the site now a tourist attraction. Although the name is retained today for trading purposes the original Fletcher Jones company has been dissolved. The screen is a representation of the Fletcher Jones factory post 1967. It a wool tapestry by Martin Prider who was a painter and caretaker what the Fletcher Jones factory. He lived in one of the Fletcher Jones cottages on site. (Robin Boyd Age Small Homes Scheme, today Heritage listed.)This is an interesting memento of the Fletcher Jones company and the factory. It was done by a local resident and features the famous Fletcher Jones gardensTapestry fire screen in a rectangular light timber frame depicting the Fletcher Jones Factory Gardens. The screen has two timber feet, non relective glass and appears to be a wool tapestry. The image of the gardens is after 1967 as the silver ball is included and that was erected in 1967. Nilfletcher jones company and warrnambool factory, pleasant hill warrnambool, martin prider, fletcher jones, tapestry of fletcher jones factory

The Ozone Hotel was formerly the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace which was erected in 1890 at a cost of around ten thousand pounds. Coffee Palaces were temperance hotels which were popular in the latter part of the 19th century which offered recreation and superior accommodation. The coffee palace operated until 1915 and was then closed before re-opening in 1920 as Hotels Mansions. It had major renovations including a large theatre area. February 23rd 1929 saw the most spectacular fire in Warrnambool's history when the Hotel mansions was burnt to the ground. Evelyn O'Brien was granted a temporary licence and in September 1930 she was given permission to rebuild. The new hotel named Hotel Warrnambool was opened in March 1931. The name plate is visible in photographs of the original Directors of the Grand Ozone. Mrs Lilias Euphemia Thom was a licensee of the Ozone hotel from 1907-1910.A link to a significant part of Warrnambool's streetscape and grand buildings.Marble name plate Ozone Hotel, with a shallow decorative groove 30mm in from edge, 4 mounting holes in each corner, an inscription L E Thom has 6 holes in lower portion perhaps used to attach the name of subsequent licensees. Ozone Hotel L E Thom grand ozone coffee palace, warrnambool history, hotel warrnambool, hotel mansions warrnambool, l thom

Armyne, George and Lemuel Bolden were original landholders of large parts of land in the Western district. Portions of it extended from Pirron Yallock in the East to almost as far as Portland. The head station was at Grasmere. They were noted breeders of shorthorn cattle in fact they were some of the first men to bring the breed to Victoria and thus helped to pioneer the Australian Shorthorn breeding Industry. This branding iron was found at Lyall Park, originally 640 acres selected by William Lyall at Cooramook. It is believed to be a branding iron dating from when the land was occupied by the Bolden Brothers. The Bolden Brothers were the first to erect considerable lengths of fencing in the Warrnambool area. If this item is an authentic Bolden piece of property then it is the oldest artefact from the time of white settlement that is held by the Warrnambool and district Historical society. The item itself while a common farming implement and which was found on a farm originally owned by the Bolden Brothers is a link with the earliest part of Warrnambool’s history.Short, round wooden handle with metal brand in the shape of the letter T with two thirds circle attached to vertical part of T. Daub of paint at end of handle . T 5Paper label attached with green tape with 931 in texta and hand written on back,” branding iron reputed to have been used by Bolden Bros Grasmere c 1840. warrnambool, bolden brothers, armyne bolden, george bolden, lemuel bolden, branding iron, shorthorn cattle

This RAAF uniform is believed to have belonged to Flying Officer Russell Miller, the son of William and Muriel Miller of Warrnambool. Russell Miller attended Warrnambool High School and worked for the Warrnambool City Council before enlisting in World War 11. He was killed in flying operations over Germany in 1944. Died 28 Sept 1944. Remembered at Rheinburg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. More info @ https://cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead This uniform is a poignant memento of one Warrnambool's brave heroes of World War 11.1 The jacket is made of navy blue wool with a rever collar, four front pockets, eight buttons with air force insignia and navy cloth lining. The two sleeves have metal insignia and black and cream braiding. Above the front left pocket is a stitched blue and white applique. The jacket has a cloth belt with a rusted metal buckle. .2 The trousers are made of navy blue wool with two pockets, a buttoned fly and there are six buttons evenly stitched around the waist band. There is also a metal clasp on the waist band. RAAFraaf, flying officer russell miller, raaf uniform 1940's

Dame Nellie Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell (1861-1931), was the first Australian to gain international fame as an opera singer and one of the best-known singers in late Victorian times. She took the name ‘Melba’ from her home town, Melbourne. She sang in Warrnambool on at least two occasions, staying at local homes, including ‘Summer Hill’, belonging to the Murray family and ‘Lyndoch’ as the guest of Florence Lake. In 1927 she sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall with three other assisting artists and this programme records that event. The Warnambool and District Historical Society has an evening bag that was given by Nellie Melba to Miss O’Donnell, a maid at ‘Lyndoch’ at that time. This programme is of considerable significance as it is a memento of the occasion in 1927 when the famous Australian opera singer sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall during her farewell tour. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded into two to make four pages. The front cover has a decorative border and blue printing and a Warrnambool & District Historical Society stamp and the back cover has an advertisement. The middle pages contain blue printing. The folds are torn in parts.Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tourdame nellie melba, history of warrnambool, lyndoch, melba farewell tour

This item was given to the Historical Society in 1972, with the donor indicating that the spirit level belonged to the Henty family. The Hentys of Portland are regarded as the first permanent settlers in the State of Victoria (1834). Stephen Henty, with his brother Edward, was involved in the whaling industry in Portland. He also had shipping interests, operating a regular Western District shipping service (‘Champion’, ‘Lady Bird’, ‘Western’, ‘Edina’ etc) and a property ‘Cadnook’, near Harrow. Stephen Henty had close connections with Warrnambool not only because of his shipping interests but also because he was the brother-in-law of an early Warrnambool Harbour Master, Captain Frank Helpman. A spirit level was an essential tool for early settlers as they often built their own homes and constructed the roads nearby, needing to ascertain if what was being constructed was on level ground.It does not seem possible to establish whether this item belonged to the Henty family or to a Henty property. But in the Historical Society collection we have a piece of sheet music which includes the handwriting ‘Mrs Smalpaige, Cadnook’, ‘S. J. Henty’ and the date ‘8th August 1859’. Also the Warrnambool Art Gallery has an authentic Henty piano dating from 1837 and Stephen Henty’s wife died in Hamilton in 1906 so it is possible that the spirit level came to us from a Henty family descendant living nearby via Mr N. Kelly. If the Henty provenance can be proved then this item is of high significance.This is an unvarnished wooden spirit level, apparently home made, with a bubble in the centre. The top has been attached with eight screws, now much rusted. There appears to be some letters in the bubble area but they have not been deciphered “Hentys spirit level, oldest in Australia” is written in ink on the back of the objectspirit level, henty brothers portland, warrnambool, henty family

These letters etc were initially printed in the Warrnambool Standard and other newspapers during the First World War. They were collected by the Bonnett family and pasted into the exercise book, possibly by Jessie Bonnett. The book has been transcribed and republished by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society under the title Fields Of War. It contains the names of over six hundred soldiers from the Warrnambool District.This represents a valuable insight into the lives, experiences and feelings of WWI soldiers and nurses and their families. It has value in the individual letters collected with many of the originals no longer surviving but also as a collection. It has strong social and historical significance.Black cloth covered, rectangular, thick exercise book with lined page with glue and string binding. A recycled book with original mathematics notation overlaid by newspaper clippings pasted in three columns per page. Includes photographs, letters, poems, related cuttings and notices. WARTIME LETTERS a compilation of newspapers/notices/and/letterswartime letters, newspapers, jessie bonnett, letters, photographs, poetry, first world war, warrnambool standard

St. Anns College had its beginnings in the arrival in May 1872 of a group of nuns from Ireland. They were the third group of Sisters of Mercy to come to Victoria. The Warrnambool nuns worked hard to establish a school and orphanage for the socially disadvantaged children of the district. They purchased Wyton from Captain Ardlie that year and also Amhurst later on. The Nazareth sisters of Ballarat took over the orphanage in the late 1880's and moved the children to Ballarat but the school continued to develop an expanding curriculum. A chapel was built in 1887 and a school wing in 1906. They survived on tuition fees and the generosity of benefactors though the early and middle part of the 20th century including a large bequest by Mrs Vera Kenna in the 1960's. Boarders were a regular part of convent life until the 1970's which is probably the source of this plate. St Ann's College was combined with St Joseph's CBC college as Emmanuel College and operates today as the largest Catholic college in the district.This has significance as it is associated with one of the longest running schools in the district and hence would have a connection to many Warrnambool people as well as district people who boarded at the college.White bowl, with green and yellow stripe around edge and emblem. Surface is quite scratched on front and bottom of bowl.Inscription on emblem. " St. Anns Warrnambool around edge of logo with Omnia Vincit Labor on banner through the middle with four stars in the background. Printed in green. Inscription on base Grindley Hotel Ware England . Vitrified . Gibson and Paterson Limited New Zealand. CIR stamped into china on base.secondary school, catholic, warrnambool, st ann's college, sisters of mercy, education, emmanuel college

The Reeves family emigrated from Dublin arriving in Geelong around 1845. The established their cordial business in Warrnambool in mid 19th century and operated well into the 20th century.The Reeves family were one of a number of drink manufacturers which operated in Warrnambool in the late 19th century and 20th century. Clear glass cylindrical bottle with neck. The dark grey stopper has an internal screw with rubber seal.Embossed on side of bottle "This bottle always remains the propertyof /R.V. REEVES/WARRNAMBOOL." Lined measure mark on side of bottle. "32" either side of lip.Manufacturers marks on bottom.reeves, warrnambool, cordial bottle

This item has historical significance, being the official seal of the Warrnambool Roads Board which existed 1854-1863. The Roads Board cleared tree stumps and built the early streets in Warrnambool, built and maintained all the early roads and bridges in the district.Small round brass seal with wooden handle. Handle has been carved from hardwood using a lathe. Seal has the words 'WARRNAMBOOL' and 'BOARD' arranged around the outer circumference of the seal and 'ROADS' across the diameter. These words are upper case, indented and reversed, in order to form a positive impression. warrnambool, shire of warrnambool

Booval Hill was an early name for the area to the north east of the Princes Highway and Liebig St intersection. The winning horse being a horse named Bloodstain which is recorded on the mount of the photograph. This item has a social and historical significance. Socially, it shows an early association which Warrnambool has had with steeple-chasing, with jumps racing still representing an important part of the horseracing calendar. The photo has a strong link with Warrnambool, being one of many photographs taken by The Jordan studios which operated out of premises in Liebig Street .Two black and white photos mounted on card showing the first and second last jumps of the Booval Steeplechase in 1921. There is text handwritten below the photographs and there is damage to the top right hand corner of the top photograph.Bottom photo signed Arthur Jordan 6 W'bool.steeplechase, warrnambool, booval, bloodstain, booval hill1921, jordan studios, horse racing

The wedding dress was worn by Amy Wilton for her marriage at St John's Presbyterian Church. Photograph (media attached) shows bride wearing the dress.This wedding dress is socially significant because of its historic connection with Warrnambool through local families that still reside in the city and contributes to the understanding of the era. It has artistic and aesthetic merit and is a good example of fashion, style and design of the era. (refer catalogue Gorgeous Garb, Buda, Castlemaine p2 and The Australian Aesthetic Wedding Dress 1822 to 2011, Bendigo Art Gallery, p 5,10,12,17)A magnolia silk velvet wedding dress worn by Amy Wilton for her marriage to Ronald Wade (born 30 September 1912) on 19 April 1937 at St John's Presbyterian Church, Spence Street, Warrnambool.wade, wilton, wedding dress, 1937

In 1866, in an effort to maintain the main roads of the region it was decided to establish toll roads on the Belfast, Woodford, Purnim and Allansford roads. Gates were erected and the leases were disposed of by auction. In 1867 the Woodford tollhouse was destroyed by fire suspected to be deliberate. The tolls were removed three years later after much opposition.This item has historic significant as in the early years(1864) of Warrnambool Tolls were levied on the three main roads leading from Warrnambool into the Shire. In 1864 the Shire of Warrnambool decided that tolls were the only just way to raise funds for maintenance of metalled roads. the Shire of Warrnambool had been created in 1863 from the old Warrnambool Roads Board.Small booklet 140mms long by 40mms wide 13mm depth. Blue & grey marbled cardboard covers back & green oiled cloth binding. Inside full book of double side ticket stubs with perforations in the middle.Shire of Warrnambool. WOODFORD ROAD. TOLL GATE 1s. 6d. Fairfax & Laurie, Printerswarrnambool, shire of warrnambool, woodford road, main belfast road, toll gate, toll tickets, woodford toll house 1866, fairfax & laurie printers

Local base hospital and involvement with community groupsBoard of management showing appreciation of service by the community to the Hospital.Handwritten calligraphy on paper, black script and some colour details. Water damaged and stained. Three of signatures are considerably fadedWarrnambool & District Base Hospital 1945 to the members of "3YB" Ladies Ideal Club Warrnambool. Signed Stewart Lindsay, E.A. Wright, R Philpott and Vice President3 yb, ladies ideal club 3yb, warrnambool base hospital, warrnambool and district base hospital, certificate of appreciation, stewart lindsay, e a wright, r philpott

Local base hospital and involvement with community groupsBoard of management showing appreciation of service by the community to the Hospital.Handwritten calligraphy on parchment paper, black script with ornate colour details. Four clear signaturesThe Warrnambool & District Base Hospital 1960 to the members of the Hawksdale Ladies Auxiliarywarrnambool base hospital, hawkesdale hospital auxiliary, warrnambool