Murray Comrie Collection. Murray Comrie's information about Tarnagulla Post Offices to be added. This photograph is a fair copy created from an older original.Monochrome photograph of numerous people standing outside the then new Tarnagulla Post Office, during its construction.Handwritten: 'Post Office during building - 1886 opened'.tarnagulla, post office, construction, businesses, commercial road

Fan was made for Mary Jane Schroder for her marriage to Ralph Pardy Rudd on 24th Nov 1886 in Ceylon. Later carried by three family members at weddings during 1941 by Mrs Kathleen Hubbert then Mrs Mary Barry in 1947 and finally by Sharlene Barry, now Mrs Ron Draeger.1886 bamboo fan mounted with white feathers. Spray of artificial flowers and cream satin ribbon tied in bows and wound round the bamboo handle. Back of fan has circle of boa to conceal joins of white feathers. See also Bodice NA3580, shoes NA3578 and bridal headdress NA3489.costume accessories, female

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Meudell George D re Holloway. Letterhead - Horrell & Meudell (R F Horrell & G D Meudell), Auditors, Secretaries and Accountants, 10 Market Buildings, William Street, Melbourne. 2 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph 4 Nov 1886 for Merrifield S from Bruce T?, St Kilda asking, 'Where is Penders blackboy Pompey'. Reply from Merrifield mentions 'Pompey was remanded Melbourne on Friday last. Enquire at watch tower there.' Also mentions 'I don't know whether Mr Bruce is Pompey's friend or Caesars (Mr Penders)' on Attached handwritten note dated 4 Nov 1886. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Williams A M, Solicitor, 28 Queen Street, Melbourne re Bagot? V Budden 4 - 1886 - Post card to Suffern? Mr William James, Elmore from Lester A,A. Land Officer, re 255 acres, Egerton. Mentions Wardens Court, Sandhurst. 5 - 1886 - Letter from Drues W T, 19 Temple Court re A'Becketts fees. 6 - 1886 - Letter from Barrett Henry, Runnymede East.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, meudell george d, holloway, horrell & meudell, merrifield s, bruce t?, penders, pompey, caesars, williams a m, bagot, budden, suffern mr william james, lester a a, drues w t, a'becketts, barrett henry

In 1886 the Wesleyan Methodist Church celebrated the fiftieth jubilee of the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Association in Britain. The Association was one of several off-shoots of the Methodist Church, which had been established by John Wesley from the 1730s. Methodism stressed evangelism and a closer association with God. The focus on fiftieth anniversaries by the church originated in Leviticus 25:10: ‘And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you...’. In 1902 the various off-shoots of Methodism in Australia united to form the Methodist Church of Australasia. In 1977 the church became part of the Uniting Church. The Wesleyan Methodist Church which exists in Australia today is actually a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, introduced to Australia during World War II. In 2003 it had almost 100 churches in Australia.Many of the early pioneers in the City of Moorabbin were Methodists.Silver Medal Side one: legend within trefoil; JUBILEE / OF THE / WESLEYAN / METHODIST / CHURCH / IN / VICTORIA / 1886 small floral decorations at each point of trefoil. Side two: Bust of John Wesleycity of moorabbin, wesleyan methodist church, religion, jubilee

This certificate has been designed and drawn by James McKain Meek, one of several produced by him to sell to local families in Warrnambool and district as a means of raising money to support his family. James Meek (1815-1899) was a fish canner, fisherman, fishmonger, storekeeper, café proprietor, explorer, gold digger, accountant, writer, librarian and above all an outstanding calligrapher. After being a pioneer settler in the Ballarat area and residing also in Port Melbourne he came to Warrnambool and lived in the area in the 1850s and 60s. He explored much of the Terang area and the Otway Ranges, speaking and writing of the great potential of the latter area. One of Meek’s calligraphy works won an award in the International Exhibition of Melbourne in 1861 and some of his works are in various art galleries and museums today. Thomas Fidler was a Warrnambool butcher who married Fanny Cockman in 1849 in London.This certificate is of great significance as one of the calligraphy works of James Meek, a 19th century resident of Warrnambool, celebrated today as a talented calligrapher. The certificate was displayed in 2015 in a James Meek exhibition at Ballarat Art Gallery. The item is also of social significance showing how the more affluent 19th century families recorded and preserved their family history. This is a certificate hand drawn by James Meek. It is a template that enables the owner to insert the details of a family tree, in this case the 19th century family of Thomas Fidler and Fanny Cockman. The certificate is in grey and black shadings with highly ornamental scrolls and patterns. The document has been produced in black ink. It has a central column with spaces for names and side tablets to include more information. The side tablets are star-shaped and the central column has attachments of various shapes – circles, rectangles etc. The base of the column has further ornamental scrolls, swirls and lacework and features sketches of three emus on one side and three kangaroos on the other side. The certificate is mounted on white cardboard. Some of the Fidler family names have been produced in printed letters and some names have been added later by a family member. ‘Th. os Fidler’s Family Register 1865’ ‘The Family Keepsake’ ‘A Present For Home’thomas fidler and fanny cockman, james meek, history of warrnambool

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Motteram & Hyett, Solicitors, McCrae Street, Sandhurst re City Council Masonic Hall. Mentions Temperance Fire Brigade. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Office of Titles regarding Certificate of Title Vol. 1694, Fol. 338627 and Vol. 1228, fol. 245466. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Office of Titles re Woods to Lake & Knape. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, Melbourne to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Sandhurst re Sterry v Trestrail?cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, motteram & hyett, city council masonic hall, temperance fire brigade. office of titles, woods, lake & knape, bennett attenborough wilks & nunn, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, sterry, trestrail?

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. In this image the lot to the left is vacantCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .02 - 1886 building marked, but actually a 20th century photo built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal papers. 1 - 1886 - Post card from Langtree C W, Secretary for Mines and Water Supply addressed to Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Sandhurst. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Nunn, 102 Collins Street West Melbourne to Messrs Bennett & Co re Lazarus v Lazarus. 3 - 1886 - Post card from Inspector of Accounts addressed to Messrs Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly re Geugnagel. 4 - 1886 - Letter from Crawford W H, Ballarat to Connelly T J Esq, Solicitor, Sandhurst.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, langtree c w, mines & water supply, bennett attenborough wilks & nunn, bennett & co, lazarus, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, martin wm, geugnagel, crawford w h, connelly t j esq.

These are exercise books belong to the first pupil of the then Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution. A slim soft covered exercise book with brown and blue marbelling on cover, blue binding over spine. Contains, handwritten in ink, by Lucy Lewis, the first pupil of the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution, exercises in arithmetic using £sd. Addition, subtraction, etc. Copied, probably from a board as there are no mistakes! On inside cover in handwriting "S. Lucy A. Lewis / Feb 27 1865 / To June 1866". deaf children australia, lucy lewis, deaf education, victorian deaf and dumb institution

BUSINESS ESTABLISHED BY JOHANN CONRAD WEICKHARDT IN 1859, PURCHASED BY JACOB F. WEICKHARDT IN 1865. PURCHASED BY J. FRANZ WEICKHARDT 189-1921.1 ORIGINAL SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTED ON CARDBOARD OF BALLARAT BAKERY SHOP IN FRASER STREET, CLUNES, OPPOSITE TEMPLETON STREET. .2 BLACK AND WHITE COPY OF THE ABOVE PRINTED ON GLOSSY PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPEROn Front; Handwritten in black ink, Ballarat Bakery. Clunes business established by Johann Conrad Weickhardt in 1859, purchased by Jacob F. Weickhardt in 1865, purchased by J. Franz Weickhardt 1899-1921 On Reverse; Johann Conrad Weickhardt visited Clunes for the formation of the All Nations Masonic Lodge in 1858. He then sold his business in Ballarat and came to Clunes in 1859. Born 1829, died 1905. Had Ballarat Bakery 1859 to 1865, Had British Hotel, Talbot Road, 1865 to 1905. Jacob Franz Weickhardt brother to Johann Conrad Ballarat Bakery 1865 to 1899 Born 183- Died 1900. Jacob Franz Weickhardt, son of J Conrad W Ballarat Bakery 1899 to 1921. Born at Clunes Aug 4- 1870, died Nov 1942. Father of Frederick Conrad Weickhardt. local history, photography, photographs, shops, weickhardt's ballarat bakery., buildings

This Journal written by Georgina Mc Crae Melbourne 1841 - 1865. The Painting on the cover is a self Portrait. A very Interesting account of Victoria's early History.A white coverd paperback - Top in white print in black background Imprint Classics. Georgina's Journal in Pink Print. In Central cover In an oval inset a Colored Portrait of Georgina Mc Crae. Below Portrait Melbourne 1841 - 1865. Edited By Hugh Mc Crae.Inscription on Fly Leaf: Hand written. To The Stawell Historical Society - To Honor the memory of John McClure. REfer Pages 87 - 154. 178. 192. 198.234. Note John Mc Clure is Intered Deep Lead Cemetery 1859.stawell education

Framed original woodblock engraving of the Police Memorial, Mansfield. Hand coloured from the Garran Picturesque Atlas 1886mansfield, police murders, murdered police memorial, kelly gang, ned kelly, michael kelly, michael scanlan, thomas lonigan

Book: 'Lawn Tennis'. 92 pages. Hardcover. Edition uncertain (Copyrighted 1886) Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboardtennis

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Arnoldt D W, Wedderburn. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Cuthbert & Co, Law & General Stationers, Lithographers & Printers, 55 Chancery Lane. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Pickles Thos P, Railway Workshops, Newport. Letter has letterhead - G F Pickles & Sons, Carriage Manufacturing Company Limited. Manufacturers of Carriages, Buggies, Pleasure & Business Wagons. Importers of American and English Carriage Materials. Sandhurst. Repository & Show Rooms, Latrobe Street West, Melbourne. 4 - 1886 - Letter to Spence James, Gannawarra, Cohuna from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Albion Chambers, Sandhurst. Also contains returned reply from Spence James. Mentions Geugnagel Charles, Baker, Sandhurst. 5 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Kilbride Peter, Rochester to Wilkinson, Albion Chambers re Brown & Ellison case. 6 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Bennett & Co, Market St re Sterry & Trestrail.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, arnoldt d w, cuthbert & co, pickles thos p, g f pickles & sons, spence james, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, geugnagel charles, kilbride peter, wilkinson, brown, ellison, bennett & co, sterry, trestrail

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE 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 November 1884 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 1856 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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. When the original building was demolished 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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 Graphic Illustrated Newspaper Vol 33 Publisher: Edward Joseph Mansfield Date: 1886 Further Information: January to June 1886Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, the graphic illustrated newspaper vol 33, edward joseph mansfield

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE 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 November 1884 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 1856 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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. When the original building was demolished 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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 Graphic Illustrated Newspaper Vol 34 Publisher: Edward Joseph Mansfield Date: 1886 Further Information: July to December 1886 Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library.flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, the graphic illustrated newspaper vol 34, edward joseph mansfield

Used with Lebel Model 1886 bolt action rifle and was the basic French infantry weapon of World War 1 (1914-1918). Probably brought to Australia by a returning soldier as a souvenir. Donated to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Collection when no longer of interest to family. Nickname 'Rosalie' by French soldiers, a reference to a popular song of the war years. Called French knitting needles by German soldiers.Fine example of World War 1 weaponry used by allied forces.French Model 1886/93 "Rosalie" bayonet, 500mm steel cruciform section blade with quillon (hook) and brass anodized handle.On Quilion "M 78124"rosalie, knitting needles, french, bayonet

Born: St Petersurg, Russia 1828; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1854; Lived and worked: Switzerland 1845-1848, Germany 1851-1854, Australia 1854-1865, New Zealand 1865-1866, England 1870-1902; Died: London, Middlesex, England 1902RomanticismGift of Mrs E.E. Ledger, 1985View from rustic house with two figures overlooking lake surrounded by mountains and trees. Grey brushed stained timber.Recto: Signed and dated "N.Chevalier. / 1886" in brown watercolour in l.l.c of composition; Not titledwatercolour, landscape, waterscape, building, trees, mountains, water, cabin, sunset