This collection of papers have come from the offices of William Ardlie a local solicitor. He was born in Moonee Ponds in 1843 and was admitted as an attorney and solicitor of the supreme Court in 1865. From 1867 to 1878 he was in partnership with George Barber and then continued to practise until his late eighties which made him the oldest practising lawyer in Australia. He was involved in local councils and organisations such as the Hospital and Anglican Church.He was associated with several large homes in Warrnambool including Wyton presently the home of Emmanual College Warrnambool. He died in 1933.His son E L Ardlie also practised as a solicitor from the same offices from 1893. A number of the invoices included relate to the Estate of James drought who was a local policeman and owner of a number of properties and operated in various trades such as George Ramsay manufacturer of stoves and chimneys, J Rogers plumber & gas fitter and Christian & Dodds who were carpenters and joiners. There are a number of documents which relate to the Chinese, many of whom operated market gardens along the Merri River. They were a familiar part of Warrnambool from around 1872 until around 1940. The names mentioned in these documents include Ah Foo,Charles Quing Bow, Andrew Quing Bow Ah Bing Ah Jing Ah Moon and Ah Seong. They were reknown for their supply of fresh vegetables to the people of the town. They leased land from John Moore. These documents are a cross section of the types of documents which were used and are still used in the operation of businesses. They provide a social snapshot of people and the business which they conducted with their solicitors in this case William and E L Ardlie who were a long standing legal firm in the district. Another interesting aspect of some of these documents is the leases signed by the Chinese market gardeners who played an important but often overlooked aspect of Warrnambool's aspect.A total of 27 documents which relate to William Ardlie Solicitors 001133.1Policy from The Victoria Insurance Company for office effects, 001133.1.2 Receipt for 11/1 for policy. 001133.2 Renewal Receipt from Messrs Hammond & Richards as agents for Victoria Insurance Co. 001133.3 Renewal Receipt from Messrs Hammond & Richards as agents for Victoria Insurance Co. 001133.4 General rates receipt . City of Warrnmbool. 001133.5 Water rates receipt . City of Warrnmbool. 001133.6 Camperdown Chronicle , Letter re overdue payment 001133.7 Camperdown Chronicle Statement 31/12/1948 001133.8 Transfer of land notice Ben Rogers Mepunga 001133.9 W H Philpott Account for rent Estate R P Thomas 001133.10 George Ramsay account for Mr Walters for stove setting. 001133.11 Archibald Macfarlane & Co account for Estate James Drought for advertising. 001133.12 Letter to E L Ardlie re deed of Keane family arrangements 21/10/1910 001133.13 Letter to E L Ardlie re charges of Keane Estate 14/12/1910 001133.14 Account to E L Ardlie from J Rogers re estate Mr Drought , repairs.1/08/1906 001133.15 Account to EL Ardlie from J Rogers re estate Mr Drought1/10/1907 001133.16 Account to William Ardlie from J Rogers re estate Mr Drought 01/07/1908 001133.17 Account to William Ardlie from J Rogers re estate Mr Drought 01/07/1908 001133.18 State Savings Bank Victoria passbook of Margaret Molan 1/02/1937 001133.19 Account to E L Ardlie from Christian & Dodds repairs to Droughts house 01/07/1905 001133.20 Account to E L Ardlie from Christian & Dodds for Estate of Drought for house repairs Darling St1/10/1905 001133.21 Estimate to A A Briggs from Christian & Dodds for Estate of Drought 06/04/1908 001133.22 Receipt to E L Ardlie from Christian & Dodds for Estate of Drought for house repairs 01/05/1906 001133.23 Lease Indenture 02/06/1922 between William Ardlie andAH Foo re Crown Allotment 144 Wangoom for 70 pounds. 001133.24 Agreement 18/06/1929 Messrs Quing Bow & Sons to Messrs Ah Bing Ah Jing Ah Moon and Ah Seong witnessed John Moore. 001133.25 Lease indenture made 18/06/1929 betweenWilliam Ardlie to messrs Ah Bing Ah Jing Ah Moon and Ah Seong. 001133.26 Agreement 18/06/1929 Messrs Quing Bow & Sons to Messrs Ah Bing Ah Jing Ah Moon and Ah Seong witnessed John Moore 001133.27.1 Notification to Creditor of issue of stay order farmers Debts adjustment Act 1935 to Ellen C McGinness and Estate of john McGinness 001133.27.2Note re monthly inst of interest Estate McGinness1942 001133.27.3 Estate of j A Bromfield re Estate of McGinness Arrears of Interest1943 001133.27.4 Letter to W Ardlie from The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd24/02/1944 re interest on J A Bromfield's trust re McGinness mortgage. 001133.27.5 Letter to W Ardlie from The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd 25/02/1944 re interest on J A Bromfield's trust re McGinness mortgage. 001133.27.6 William Ardlie to The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd re Bromfield & McGinness 24/02/1944 001133.27.7 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd to William Ardlie re receipts 16/03/1944 001133.27.8 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd to William Ardlie re Bromfield & McGinness18/03/1944 Unable to complete enquiries. 001133.27.9 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd to William Ardlie 27/03/1944 001133.27.10 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd to William Ardlie29/04/1944 001133.27.11 Estate Sarah Donaldson re accrued Interest 1933-1961 001133.28.1 Indenture between Emily Maria Briggs,Mary Jane Briggs, Frederick William Briggs, Fanny Alethea Briggs, James Alfred Briggs,Lucy Annie Briggs, Arthur Albert Briggs , and Mary Ann Briggs 001133.28.2 Letter re estate of Mary Ann Briggs 001133.1 No 590911 001133.1.2 Signed G Begley 001133.2 Hammond & Richards 43/5 Kepler St Warrnambool 001133.3 Hammond & Richards 43/5 Kepler St Warrnambool 03/03/1934 001133.4 W Ardlie 18/06/1929 Thomas Beattie collector 001133.5 W Ardlie 18/06/1929 Thomas Beattie collector 001133.6 Wm Ardlie signed W A Donald10/08/1949 001133.7 Wm Ardlie 31/12/1948 001133.8 Alexander Ben Rogers 26/05/1950 001133.9 Estate R P Thomas 28/061955. Phone 124 001133.10 .Mr Walters Drought A Ramsay 01/05/1906 001133.11 Estate of the late James Drought 24/05/1906 001133.12 W F Molesworth Re Thomas Keane. Phone 81. 21/10/1910 001133.13 W F Molesworth Phone 81 Thomas Keane14/12/1910 001133.14 E L Ardlie Joseph Rogers 13/08/1906 001133.15 E L Ardlie Joseph Rogers 01/10/1907 001133.16 E L Ardlie 01/07/1908 001133.17 Estate Late Mr Drought 01/07/1908 001133.18 Miss Margaret Molan 001133.29 L Ardlie 01/07/1905 001133.20 E L Ardlie 01/10/1905 001133.21 Mr A A Briggs Christian & Dodds 06/04/1908 001133.22 L Ardlie W Christian 01/05/1906 001133.23 Stamp duty 04/061926 Signed William Ardlie Est Conway Ah Foo 001133.24 Signed John Moore, Charles Quing Bow, Andrew Quing Bow, Ah Bing, Ah Jing, Ah Moon, Ah Seong. 001133.25 Signed William Ardlie, E H Conway, Ah Bing, Ah Jing, Ah Moon, Ah Seong, John Moore. 001133.26 Signed John Moore, Charles Quing Bow, Andrew Quing Bow, Ah Bing, Ah Jing, Ah Moon, Ah Seong. 001133.27.1 Ellen C McGinness and Estate of John McGinness James Dickson R R Macfarlane Richard Vincent McGinness, Abraham McGinness, John Ambrose McGinness 14/07/1936 001133.27.2 Note re monthly inst of interest Estate McGinness 1942 001133.27.3 J A Bromfield McGinness 001133.27.4 W Ardlie, The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd 24/02/1944 J A Bromfield's trust re McGinness mortgage. Syd Jackson 001133.27.5 W Ardlie ,The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd 25/02/1944 J A Bromfield's trust re McGinness mortgage.Syd Jackson 001133.27.6 William Ardlie The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd re Bromfield & McGinness 24/02/1944 001133.27.7 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd William Ardlie 16/03/1944 001133.27.8 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd William Ardlie Bromfield & McGinness 18/03/1944 001133.27.9 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd William Ardlie 27/03/1944 001133.27.10 The Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd William Ardlie 29/04/1944 001133.27.11 Estate Sarah Donaldson 1933-1961 001133.28.1 Miss Emily m Briggs to Mrs Mary Ann Briggs Assignment . Stamped William Ardlie Solicitor Warrnambool. warrnambool,, william ardlie, james drought, christian & dodds, chinese of warrnambool, james a bromfield