Colac was the centre of a spidery rail network over which were carted anything and everything by Victorian Railways, the common carrier throughout the area. The main line through the region was the 35 km rail route from Birregurra (and thence to Geelong) though Colac to Pirron Yallock (and thence to Warrnambool and Port Fairy) from March, 1877, to July, 1883. The first branch line ran from Irrewarra to Beeac in 1889, which then extended in stages to Cressy and on the Ballarat. The second branch line was the 31 km long Birregurra to Forrest in 1891. The cost of building railways into mountainous terrain meant the third branch line was a narrow-gauge 2 foot 6 inch line, first of all to Beech Forest in 1902, and then to Crowes in 1911, for a total of 71 km. The final rail connection was the 16 km branch from Colac to Alvie to facilitate the transport of onions, opening in 1923. Each line had its own character and peculiarities derived from its foundation, geography and economic base. As a general rule, the loadings on the branch lines had greater output tonnage than inwards, the reverse of the main line. The lines traversed agricultural and timber areas where inputs like seed, grass, fertiliser and labour were minor, compared with the output, timber, wool, cream, butter, cheese fruit, potatoes, onion, grain and livestock.Rail Centre Colac. Rail stations in the Colac Otway Shire, 1877 to 2014. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2014. vi, 262 p.; illus., maps, index. Soft cover.colac; cressy; forrest; beech forest; crowes

Vehicles of these types were issued to CMF units following WW11 for transport purposes.Part of a collection of workshop manuals and user handbooks relating to equipment on issue to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles during the latter half of the twentieth century.Buff coloured soft covered manual 108 pages square bound being Driver's Handbook for a variety of Chevrolet wheeled vehicles ranging from 15cwt 4x2 to Fd Arty Tractor. Published by Australian Army 1945.Ink stamp on title page " 8/13 VMR Regimental Collection."

Soft Cover book slightly larger than A5 size, Dark Green spine with an off white cover & pencil drawings of a pig, fruit, seafood, chickens, eggs,sunflower grain, cattle, sheep 74 pages

Soft Cover slightly larger than an A5, front cover is cream with a photo of honey being drizzles into a jar & smaller pictures of food. Back cover is white with a photo of raspberry granitas & honey with a blurb 206 pages

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of a Fire Support Base Regimental Aid Post - here the Diggers enjoy a cold soft drink (goffer) while they wait their turn for treatment, while a medic attends to a slight head wound on a Digger.photograph, fire support base, regimental aid post, goffer (soft drink), gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, diggers, medic, digger

Black soft covered exercise book with handwrritten examination results for Typingat the Ballarat School of Mines. Each students name is given, and whether they passed, failed or got a Credit. In some years their mark out of 100 was given.ballarat school of mines, typing examinations, phyllis bradley, alice lyons, dorothy serjeant, maude williams, john scarff, hilda dunstan, edna thomas, annie barrow, nancy beames, dallas kitt, john rogers, robert lutherland, alex kum yuen, lenis proctor, joan leonard, grack wilcock, freda saunders, vera sprott, violet osborne, adeline blake, pansy ellis, ivy nott, mary keith, george webb, eunice williams, constance wilkinson, jean corbet, hazel bullock, norma crabbe, gladys middleton, joy young chung, mary green, dorothy coad, eileen fitzgerald, mary finch, thelma gordon, mary ling, betty guy, sylvia shillington, betty dulfer, betty veitch, valma falla, mona greenbank, barbara curwen-wakjer, olga lawrence, ina jopling, francis poppins, betty law, elsie coombs, marcia stoddart, thelma ellsworth, doreen keating, freda penna, evelyn ditchfield, ouida worthington, valerie vickers, norma lepp, audrey fry, valerie hoffmann, aileen judd, hilda ledwell, margery ross, margaret murrell, nola hornbuckle, valma scobie, roberta gay, lois george, claire lawrence, audrey suckling, pamela trigg, valerie blee, glenn gazzard, basil murphy, leoni cutter, barbara ngip, margaret eason, alys page, carol gibbins, louise coltman, margaret holmes, kathleen power, estelle wasley, faye lawn, hancie mcardle, margaret stoddart, judith hillman, gwenneth dixon, anne la roche, carole craig, dianne gmmola, janice vincent, margaret evans, pauline stapleton, susan wendt, dalys flynn, rita mueller

This candle holder has a sharpened point to push or hammer into soft rock and a hook to hang on a ledge or piece of rock. It is intended to be used in a mine and many residents of Warrnambool and district went to the gold mining districts in the 19th century. But it could have been used in the Warrnambool district if a small night light was required in one of the many local quarries or even in the search for coal deposits in the region. It could also have been used in a household.This miner’s candle holder has no known local provenance but it is retained as an interesting example of a candle holder used in the past.This is a thin piece of metal tapering to a point at one end and curving around in a loop at the other end to make a handle. Along the straight metal piece is attached a curved metal hook. At the end of the loop is an open-ended circular piece with a serrated top. The circular piece has a rectangular-shaped end piece which enables the hole in the curved piece to be pushed out or pulled in to make the hole smaller or bigger. The metal is much rusted. 19th century mining, history of warrnambool

These cotton reels were owned and used by Helena Warren of Newmerella. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert).Helena Warren was a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Four wooden cotton reels. 2495.1 is an empty reel with paper labels at both ends. " Best Linen lace thread Barbours No 50 200 yards Wm Barbour & Sons Ltd Lisburn Ireland" 2495.2 is a wooden reel with thick linen thread. On one end " H11 underlined" 2495.3 is a narrow wooden reel with white thread and grey wound over it. It has paper labels at both ends. " J. & P. Coats 500 yards No 50 457 metres - Chain Brand Mercerised Cotton MR WHITE" 2495.4 is a wooden reel with synthetic thread - one paper label. "J. & P. Coats 6 Cord 200 yards 40 183 metres"needlework cotton-reels warren-helena

This is a soda syphon for holding soda water used by the aerated waters business of Reeves of Warrnambool (possibly bottled in the 1970s or 80s). It is a Fletcher bottle. John Davis established a cordial business in Warrnambool in 1859 and this business was taken over by John Fletcher. Ralph Reeves purchased the Fletcher business from the estate of the late John Fletcher in 1931 and continued to use the Fletcher bottles. The business of Reeves soft drinks continued in Koroit Street until the 1980s.This soda syphon is of considerable importance as it links two prominent soft drinks makers in Warrnambool – Fletcher and Reeves. It will be useful for display as it tells of a time when this sort of soda syphon was in use.This bottle is a soda syphon with an oblong-shaped glass base and a metal spout. It has a solid glass base and a pink-coloured tube inside the bottle. It has a chip on the base and the spout is a little corroded. The name and logo (scrolls and patterns) of J. Fletcher of Warrnambool is etched into the glass. There is also a red and cream paper label of Reeves.Paper label: ‘Reeves soda water’ Glass etching: ‘J. Fletcher, Warrnambool, F. Trade Mark’ john fletcher, reeves family

This book was written by Dr J. J. C. Bradfield, (John Job Crew), 1867-1943. Dr JJC Bradfield was a visionary Australian engineer who worked with enormous energy and vision to build the infrastructure which he foresaw that Sydney would need as it grew. As early as 1903 Bradfield was making the case for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in his presidential address as President of the Sydney University Engineering Society. Bradfield’s proposal — at that stage for a cantilever bridge between Dawes Point and Milsons Point — won the committee’s support and they recommended it be accepted. However, the First World War put a stop to these plans. While a bill to authorise the project passed the lower house of the NSW parliament in 1916, it failed to pass the upper house, on the grounds that funds should not be diverted from the war effort. With the war over, in 1922 the Sydney Harbour Bridge Act was passed by the NSW Parliament. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened in 1932 after Museum and St James railway stations were built. This book was written from the story broadcast by Dr. J.J.C. Bradfield. This item is a useful reference tool.A staple soft cover 16 pp booklet with a buff coloured cover. It has a sketch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind the title "The Bridge" in dark brown print. It contains information and photographs of the history and construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge.sydney-harbour-bridge bradfield-dr-j-j-c

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 Committee, Secretaries reports, 5th April 1903 - 31st March, 1906. Soft card with red/blue/white marble pattern and red binding. Ruled lines with red left margins. 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 c1903

A compilation of articles, stories, poetry and illustrations written by men of the ANZACS in Gallipoli. In Nov 1915 a committee was established to produce the publication with cash prizes offered after evacuation correspondents, Charles Bean and Arthur Bazely edited the contributions.160 page soft cover book, brown in colour held by two large staples. Several front pages and one back page loose. Contents cover pictures, stories, poems and other writings set in the ANZAC Campaign.Heading 'THE ANZAC BOOK". "Written and illustrated in Gallipoli by the men of ANZAC". "For the benefit of Patriotic Funds connected with the A.N.Z.A.C." anzacs, gallipoli

The Premier towns is an award given by the Victorian state Government. It recognises positive actions by regional communities to protect and enhance their local environment. It is based on criteria relating to litter prevention and waste management, environmental and heritage management as well as activities among community groups and leadership. The following is taken from Hansard at the announcement of the awards in 1988 That the Senate- (a) congratulates the Mayor, Councillors, the Premier Town Committee, and the people of the City of Warrnambool, Victoria, for their achievement, on Saturday, 20 November 1988, in taking out the Victorian `Premier Town Award' for an unprecedented third time; (b) congratulates the business people of Warrnambool for their efforts in helping the city to win the Victorian Industrial and Commercial Development Award, including a special award for coastline preservation and studies This album is significant in that it documents an important award to the City of Warrnambool. It is also a comprehensive pictorial record of Warrnambool as it was in 1988.Volume 2. Covers Warrnambool rivers, bridges, coastal features, places of learning, clubs and sporting facilities and historical and general interest all of which have played an important role in the development of and history of the city and lives of its people.Soft brown vinyl cover with plastic cover. Pages are dark cream cover paper. A sticker with the Warrnambool Premier Town logo is inside the front cover. The album consists of photographs of various buildings and streetscapes with relevant descriptive text.Sticker inside front cover, Mr J Gietz Po Box 1007 Warrnambool Vic 3280. warrnambool, ideal town 1988-1991, victoria’s bicentennial premier town premier town awards

This is a soft-cover book with a blue and buff- coloured front cover featuring photographs of the Woolsthorpe Primary School and the Woolsthorpe War Memorial. The back cover has photographs of the R.S.L. Badge and the Woolsthorpe Primary School. It has 160 pages. non-fictionHistory of the Woolsthorpe Primary School and Woolsthorpe Soldier Settlementwarrnambool, woolsthorpe, soldier settlement

This book contains poems written by Lindsay Russell. This was the pen name of Ethel Stonehouse (1883-1964) who was born in Nhill, Victoria and published verse, short stories and novels. She gained a national reputation for her novels, many of which were controversial at the time, dealing with rebellious women and they were often critical of some aspects of the Catholic Church. Her first novel, ‘Smouldering Fires’ sold 100,000 copies in Australia alone. In 1914 Ethel Stonehouse married Dr John Scott and came to live in Mortlake, Victoria. ‘The Caravan of Dreams’ was her last publication. This book is of considerable significance as a book of original poems by Lindsay Russell, an Australian author who lived in the local area (Mortlake). The book was printed at the Terang Express newspaper office in 1923. This is a soft cover book of 32 pages. It has a dark blue cover with a border at the top and bottom of the front cover and black printing. The ornate borders are repeated throughout the pages. The book contains 28 poems. The cover is a little stained. lindsay russell (ethel stonehouse), history of mortlake, australian literature, warrnambool history

The information in this booklet was prepared by a University Investigation Committee formed in Warrnambool in 1961 to present the case for the establishment of a university in the Warrnambool area. The chairman of this committee was the Mayor of Warrnambool, Cr P. O’Sullivan and the secretary was W. L. George of Warrnambool. This submission was unsuccessful at the time but campaigning for a university continued. In 1961 Warrnambool Technical School in Timor Street was offering both secondary and tertiary courses in the technical and trades areas and in 1969 the tertiary section of this Technical School became the Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education. The tertiary section was relocated in 1984 to Sherwood Park, a 94 hectare site on the Princes Highway five kilometres from Warrnambool’s C.B.D. In 1990 Deakin University established a regional campus at Sherwood Park after a merger with the Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education. This booklet has some historical significance as it contains the information collated on the campaign in Warrnambool and the Western District for a university to be established in the Warrnambool area.This is a soft cover booklet of 48 pages. It has a beige-coloured cover with black printing. The booklet has been bound with brown tape. It has printed information, black and white photographs, a fold-out map, graphs and tables.deakin university, history of warrnambool

This booklet was prepared in 1999 by the Planning Unit of Deakin University. It gives current data on the campus and projections and suggestions for the future. The Warrnambool Campus of Deakin University was established in 1990 after a merger with the Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education which was already on the site that the university still occupies. This is Sherwood Park, a 94 hectare site on the Princes Highway, five kilometres from Warrnambool.This booklet is of some interest as it contains information on the Warrnambool Campus of Deakin University ten years after it was first established. This is a soft cover booklet of 179 pages. It has an orange front cover and a black back cover with black printing and a plastic over-sheet. The booklet has printed information, tables and graphs. It has black plastic spiral binding. deakin university, warrnambool campus

This is a booklet written by Jack Rooke about his life. Born in 1910 Jack Rooke faced early the challenges of living in the bush in the Camperdown and Panmure areas. He describes the difficulties of the small farmer and the tough living conditions. He also records the struggle to survive during the Depression years in the 1930s and his heartache after his farm was burnt out in the Ash Wednesday fires. Rooke’s story mirrors that of many settlers in the Western District in the early to mid 20th century and so he has produced an important social history in a simple but compelling manner. This booklet is of considerable importance as it gives the details of the life of one person facing the challenges of living in the bush in the district around Warrnambool in the 20th century. It is a simple but great social history that should be read by the younger generation today.This is a soft cover book of 40 pages. It has been self-published and home-produced with a buff-coloured cover and a plastic overlay. The cover has a black and white illustration. The pages contain some sketches and black and white photographs. early 20th century settlement in the warrnambool district, history of warrnambool

This is a soft cover book of 315 pages. It has a buff-coloured cover with black and white photographs and white printing on the front cover and black printing on the spine. The book includes printed material, black and white photographs, maps and plans. non-fiction This book records the history of the post World War Two soldier settlement farms in the Caramut area. Number two in a series of books on Soldier Settlements in Western Victoria.james affleck, peterborough, soldier settlement, caramut, history of warrnambool, soldier settlement, caramut

This book details the lives of some people of the past who are buried in cemeteries along the Great Ocean Road. Of particular interest to Warrnambool and district readers are the documented lives of Jack Denham of the La Bella shipwreck, early Warrnambool settlers, Agnes and James Ruttleton, William Sharrock, hero of the Nestor sinking, the Rutledge brothers and the Mills brothers of Port Fairy, the scientist Frank Burnet, the unionist William McLean, Dick the bushranger and Captain Pye, V.C. This book is of interest as it gives information on a variety of historical figures buried in cemeteries in the Great Ocean Road districts (Geelong to Port Fairy). It will be useful to researchers. This is a soft cover book of 290 pages. It has black and white and coloured photographs on the front and back covers and printing on the spine and back and front covers. The pages contain an introduction, 22 chapters, black and white photographs and maps and illustrations. western district of victoria, warrnambool

Item in the collection re John Eric Wiles VX16067, refer Cat No 5410P for his service details.Book red soft cover card shows a diagram with two soldiers, a shield, “17” at top with Kangaroo, scroll at bottom with “In which we serve”, 144 pages, has text, photos, maps, stories all in black print.Inside front cover typed stuck on label, “J. E. Wiles 2/7th INF BN VX16067”, opposite signed in blue pen, “Jack Wiles”.books, 17th, wiles

Bound booklet. Biographies. Soft cover, lightweight cardboard, yellow front, black back. Black print on front with wreath of oak leaves black silhouette. 71 pages, cut, plain, white, illustrated black & white photos. Printed front cover: “OUR GALLANT HEROES, MARONG HONOUR ROLL 1914 - 1919 WAR”booklet, marong, gallant heroes

The Exceptional Melbourne Cup. Tuesday November 3rd 1942 - Tavoy Burma. A story of Australian Tradition, honour, resourcefulness and courage. Charles Lewis for his father, Warren Hastings Lewis.Soft cardboard cover, black print on front / back. Blue background, front illustrated, 3 colour photos the trophy cup. 33 cut, plain, white, pages. Illustrated black / white / colour photos, maps, illustrations.book, burma, pow, cup, melbourne

Item issued to Mathew Redwood 3811680/8237166. Refer Cat No 3891 for his service details.Soft cover cardboard, glossy white back ground with black print on front, Arabic format (reversed to English), 136 pages, cut plain white, black and white illustrations including weapons, first aid, arm gestures.books, accesory, iraqi

Letters to Creswick. A selection of letters published in the Creswick Advertiser during the Great War.Cover soft cardboard, black, red & white print on front. Background pale green with photograph in colour of the Creswick School, Roll of Honour in foreground. No page numbers. Illustrated with black & white photos. Cut plain white pages.books-military-history-collection, letters, creswick