Pastor Doug Nicholls, M.B.E., J.P. was field officer for the Aborigines Advancement League (Victoria).Quarto hand written letter on letterhead of the Correspondence from the Aborigines Advancement League (Victoria) to the headmaster of the Ballarat Technical School. The letter relates to a bursary for a student. aborigines, aboriginal, aborigines advancement league (victoria), doug nicholls, cope, muir

First edition copy of James Dawson's book, "Australian Aborigines" (1881). Dawson's book draws on his daughter Isabella's ability to speak the local languages and attempts a balanced description of a culture he considered ill-used and under-appreciated by white settlers. This work remains one of the more valuable insights into the life of First Nations people at the point of first European contact.Title page of James Dawson's book "Australian Aborigines""AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES" BY JAMES DAWSON THE LANGUAGES AND CUSTOMS OF SEVERAL TRIBES OF ABORIGINES IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA BY JAMES DAWSON GEORGE ROBERTSON MELBOURNE, SYDNEY AND ADELAIDE MDCCCXXXIcdhs, cdhsfirstnations, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, isabella dawson

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. 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 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 Aborigines of Victoria Vol 2 Author: R. Brough Smyth Publisher: Government Printer Melbourne Date: 1878Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 572.9945 SMY Pastedown front endpaper has sticker that reads "Presented by The Government of Victoria to The Mechanics Institute Warrnambool" Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institutewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, the aborigines of victoria vol 2, r. brough smyth, indigenous people

This booklet was collated and printed for the 2014 Lake Bolac Eel Festival, ‘Return to Country’. The author, Peter Bakker, has spent several years researching the part played by south western Victorian aborigines and this booklet details the results of this research. Several of the soldiers came from the Warrnambool area.This is a booklet of ten pages with printed material and black and white and colour photographs and a map.Front Cover: ‘Fighting For Country – Honouring Aborigines from South West Victoria who served Australia during War Time’ (plus other printed material) Back Cover: Map and List of Service Men and Women of Aboriginal Descent with connections to South West Victoria aborigines from south west victoria, return to country, lake bolac eel festival, peter bakker, world war one, world war two, korean war, vietnam war

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. 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 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 Aborigines of Victoria Vol 1 Author: R. Brough Smyth Publisher: Government Printer Melbourne Date: 1878Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 346.94 AUS Fly paper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, the aborigines of victoria vol 1, r. brough smyth, indigenous people

CD version of The Aborigines of Victoria, Notes relating to the Habits of the Natives of other Parts of Australia and Tasmania compiled from various sources for The Government of Victoria. Vols. I&II Historical work by the Secretary of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines. (c.1876) He describes his approach to his work, the collection of language information, culture and heritage, anatomical data, drawings of the traditional lifestyles and encounters with the people.CD-ROM

Historical work by the Secretary of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines. (c.1876) Volume two is devoted to Aboriginal languages, including comparisons of Victorian languages with those from New South Wales, word lists, vocabularies, and native names of trees and plants. Volume two also includes details and customs of the aborigines in Tasmania. Includes interesting observations on the works of William Thomas, Alfred W, Howitt, Philip Chaney, Albert A.C. La Souef, John Moore Davis and Rev. William Ridley.robert brough smyth, philip chauncy, william ridley, albert le souef, a. w. howitt, john moore davis, william locke, a. f. a. greeves, language comparisons, phrenology, aboriginal social life and customs, death and burial customs, weapons, tasmania, lake tyers, lake wellington, gippsland, ballarat, brabrolong, lake hindmarsh, kotoopna

This is the second edition of a book published originally in 1851. It is an early work concerned with the recording of aboriginal languages and was published in Geelong. The author, Daniel Bunce (1813-1872) was a botanist who went on journeys with aborigines in Victoria in 1839 and later in 1846 joined Ludwig Leichhardt’s second expedition in his attempt to cross Australia from east to west. This was unsuccessful. Bunce’s experiences in 1839 and in 1846 enabled him to write his book on aboriginal languages. In 1858 Bunce became the Director of the Geelong Botanic Gardens and designed and planted out the gardens. No information has been found on Noel Hallowill. This book is of antiquarian interest as an early dictionary of aboriginal languages and as a book written by the botanist, Daniel Bunce. This is a hard cover book of 60 pages. The cover is yellow with black lettering. There is an ornamental border around the printing. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the front cover and on the first page. The book is bound with brown tape. The book has a Preface, an Introduction and sections on the aboriginal languages in areas of Victoria and beyond. A copy of a letter from the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, is included at the end of the book. Stamp of ‘Noel Hallowill’ (name unclear) daniel bunce, aboriginal languages, ludwig leichhardt

First edition copy of James Dawson's book, "Australian Aborigines" (1881). Dawson's book draws on his daughter Isabella's ability to speak the local languages and attempts a balanced description of a culture he considered ill-used and under-appreciated by white settlers. This work remains one of the more valuable insights into the life of First Nations people at the point of first European contact.Cover of James Dawson's book "Australian Aborigines" (first edition)cdhs, cdhsfirstnations, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, isabella dawson

Reproductions of various transactions and reports dealing with Aboriginal people in Port Phillip in the period 1835-39, beginning with some of the earliest reports and tracing the evolution of government interaction and policy towards Aborigines in the 19th century. Covers mission work, government reports, the native police, conflicts with squatters, with numerous illustrations and original reports. Contents: Part I, Evolution of British policy Ch. 1. Proposals to appoint protectors of aborigines Ch. 2. Racial conflict in the year of official settlement at Port Phillip Ch. 3. House of Commons Select Committee on Aborigines Part II, The Wesleyan Mission at Buntingdale Ch. 4. Establishment and early operations of the Wesleyan mission Part III, The Government acts Ch. 5. Establishing the first government mission 1835-7 Ch. 6. Food and clothing for the Aborigines Ch. 7. Punishment of Aborigines found drunk, 1836-8 Ch. 8. Operations of the government mission, November 1837 to March 1839 Ch. 9. First attempt to form a native police corps Part IV, Growing conflict with squatters, 1837-8 Ch. 10. The disappearance of Gellibrand and Hesse Ch. 11. Attacks in the Western District Ch. 12. Attacks on the overland routes to Port Phillip Ch. 13. Evolution of policy in Sydney, 1838.b&w illustrations, b&w photographs, tables, document reproductionsvictorian history, colonisation, justice system

Historical work by the Secretary of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines. (c.1876) He describes his approach to his work, the collection of language information, culture and heritage, anatomical data, drawings of the traditional lifestyles and encounters with the people. Includes interesting observations on the works of William Thomas, Alfred W, Howitt, Philip Chaney, Albert A.C. La Souef, John Moore Davis and Rev. William Ridley.robert brough smyth, anthropology, aboriginal social life and customs, children, behaviour, death and burial customs, daily life, food, diseases, weapons, shields, boomerang, vessels, baskets, message sticks, stone tool technology, fire, canoes, myths, stories

Sydney : Sydney University Press, 1979 viii,227p., 12p. of plates : maps ; 22cm. non-fictionGeneral account of pre-contact Aborigines; white colonisation and violent conflict; racial attitudes of early settlers; native police; government policy; mission work; foundation of reserves; Coranderrk.aboriginal australians -- victoria -- treatment -- history., aboriginal and torres straight islander

Adolphus Peter Elkin (1891-1979), professor of anthropology was president of the Association for the Protection of Native Races and vice-president of the N.S.W. Aborigines Welfare Board from 1940. He wrote numerous articles, reports and books with detailed descriptions of the aboriginal way of life.This book was one of the few authoritative works on the subject of Australian Aborigines published before the second world war. It is of interest because Elkin was one of the very few white Australians who was prepared to speak for the Aboriginal people. A dark blue cloth-covered book. The Australian Aborigines: How to Understand Them. Written by A.P. Elkin, Univ. of Sydney. 4th edition.australian-aborigines elkin-a.p. anthropology

Comprehensive collection of details from James Dawson and his daughter on the people they met when they first settled in the Western District of Victoria in 1840. Detailed notes were kept on language and customs. He involved himself with the local people and respected their rights and lifestyle. He recorded incidents of their first contact with white people.CD-ROMwestern district, chaap wuurong, djab wurrung, peek whuurong, peek woorong, kuurn kopan noot, dhauwurd wurrung, birds, reptiles, relationship terms

Scanned from "Australia, her heritage, her future"Tho Aborigines with boomerangs.aborigines, aboriginal, boomerang

The Church Men's Society was a part of the Church of Christ in Peel Street, Ballarat. In 1958 the President was C. Thomas, and S.C. McBride was Secretary. The Aborigines Advancement League (also known as the Aboriginal Advancement League) claims to be the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia. It is primarily concerned with Aboriginal welfare issues and the preservation of Aboriginal culture and heritage, and is based in Melbourne. The League was established in 1957 as a response to an enquiry by retired magistrate, Charles McLean, into the circumstances of Aboriginal Victorians. McLean was critical of conditions in the Lake Tyers and Framlingham Aboriginal Reserves. McLean recommended that persons of mixed Aboriginal and European descent be removed from the reserves. The people of Lake Tyers objected to this, and the League was formed out of their campaign. The new League drew from two already existing organisations, the Australian Aborigines League, established 1934 and the Save the Aborigines Committee, which had been established in 1955 as a response to the Warburton Ranges crisis. Founding President of the League was Gordon Bryant, with Doris Blackburn as Deputy President, Stan Davey as Secretary and Douglas Nicholls as Field Officer. Early activities included lobbying for a referendum to change the Australian constitution to allow the Federal government to legislate on Aboriginal affairs, and an establishing a legal defence fund for Albert Namatjira, after he was charged with supplying liquor to an Aboriginal ward.[1] By 1967 it had moved to being fully controlled by Aboriginal people with Bill Onus as the first Aboriginal President.Typed letter on Church Men's Society (C.M.S.) letterhead. The letter concerns a film 'showing the tragic condition of aborigines in Central Western Australia ...' The C.M.S. (Ballarat) planned to hold a public meeting in Ballarat at which Pastor Doug Nicholls, M.B.E. will speak and screen the film. doug nicholls, c. thomas, aborigines, ballarat town hall, stan davey, s.c. mcbride, letterhead

Digitised directly from William Westgarth's "Australia Felix".A number of images of Australian Aborigines. aboriginal, aborigines, william westgarth

Aborigines spearing from a Boat, c1939aborigine, aboriginal, spear, spearing

Image of a group of Aborigines sheltering under bark .aborigines, aboriginal, bark shelter, bark hut, mia mia

Pictorial poster known as Governor Davey's Proclamation to the Aborigines aboriginal, aborigines, law, spearing, proclamation