The Allansford Artificial breeders was commenced in 1960 As a business its main focus was on the improvement of local herds for local farmers.As a result of 32 district farmers meeting at the Allansford Mechanics Hall, the Allansford & District Artificial Breeders Co-operative Society was formed. The subscription for membership was £7 10s. The meeting was instigated through the efforts of Noel Garner, a Hopkins Point farmer, who was manager of No.1 and No.2 Warrnambool Herd Testing Associations, and Gethan Fenton, a field officer with the Warrnambool Herd Testing Association. Bill Quinlan, who had been a herd tester under Noel Garner’s management, became the first employee of the Artificial Breeders. WCB support was available from the beginning as a room was provided behind the factory offices and the AI fees were collected by the factory from suppliers’ milk cheques. In the first 12 months Bill worked alone with some assistance from Russell Learmonth and Roger Walsh, both Kraft employees. Both factories realised the benefits of herd improvement in view of their overall increased production so membership was encouraged. Semen from the best sires in Canada and New Zealand were made available and farmers also could soon see the benefits. The initial board of directors, unlike WCB beginnings, consisted entirely of farmers. These included Michael Melican (Wangoom), Gerald Mugavin (Wollaston), Noel Garner (Hopkins Point), Jim Halford (Naringal East) and Grant Warnock (Southern Cross). Membership grew rapidly and after one year there were 164 members with another 100 joining the following year. After a year of coping alone Bill was joined by Ray Eccles from Purnim and then Pat Gleeson, later a Warrnambool car dealer. John Fitzgerald became a part-time technician. These signs were attached to the entrance gates of users. In the mid 1970s it became known as the Warrnambool Co-operative and while it maintained a strong rural and farming focus a opened a retail store in Warrnambool in Timor Street in the 1970's which became the largest trading department store in the district. By the late 1990s they had 8000 members and employed 84 full time and 120 casual staff. It met a sorry end in the 2000's.This sign is a link to a business which had a large exposure in the latter part of the 20th Century. As such it has social and historical significance. Rectangular metal sign, painted red with white text and white border around the edge. Screw holes in corners. Member of Allansford & district Artificial Breeders Co-operative Society Limited allansford artificial breeders, warrnambool co-operative society limited

The Warrnambool Co-operative had its beginnings as the Allansford Artificial Breeders Co-operative in the 1960's. In the 1970s they opened a retail store in Timor Street which had a strong rural and farming base which gradually expanded to become the largest trading department store in the district. By the late 1990's they had 8000 members and employed 84 full time and 120 casual staff. It met a sorry end in the 2000's.This plaque commemorates the opening of the Rural store which consolidated the large rural aspect of the business. It opened up the site from Merri Street at the back of the Timor Street building trading in all agricultural products, , chemicals and fuels.A link to one of Warrnambool's largest stores of the latter part of the 20th century and as such it has historical and social significance. Rectangular brass plaque with stamped black text with eight screws around the edge attaching it to a piece of heavy particle board , painted black.Warrnambool Co-Op rural Store officially opened by the Mayor of Warrnambool Cr. Gerald Shanley on Wednesday, 8th October 1997.warrnambool co-operative society limited, warrnambool co-operative rural store, warrnambool

These stamps, with three of them used as official Common Seals, belonged to the Warrnambool Co-operative Society Limited and its associate business, the Warrnambool & District Artificial Breeders’ Co-operative Society Limited. This co-operative group of businesses was established in 1960 as the Allansford & District Artificial Breeders’ Co-operative Society to provide herd improvement services to district farmers. In the mid 1970s it had become the Warrnambool Co-operative Society Limited with other associated businesses and had a retail store in Timor Street with other services established in other local buildings. The co-operative gradually expanded until by the late 1990s it had 8000 members, 84 full-time employees and 120 casual employees and, by the 21st century a complex of new buildings in Warrnambool. The Warrnambool Co-op, as it was known, closed in 2007. These stamps and Common Seals are mementoes of the Warrnambool & District Co-operative Society Ltd, an important group of businesses in Warrnambool for over 30 years. Many local people were members of this co-operative venture. These are four stamps from the Warrnambool Co-Operative Society Limited and its associated businesses:- 1. Circular blue Common Seal on a square wooden base with a black plastic handle. 2. Circular blue Common Seal on a square glass base with a red plastic handle. 3. Oblong black stamp on a plastic base with a grey plastic handle. 4. Circular blue Common Seal on a wood and glass base with no handle. The four stamps have the relevant printed material on the back of the stamps to indicate the nature of the stamp. 1. & 2. ‘The Common Seal of Warrnambool Co-operative Society Ltd.’ 3. ‘Warrnambool & District Artificial Breeders’ C-operative Society Pty.Ltd. 38 Fairy Street Warrnambool 3280’ 4. ‘The Common Seal of Warrnambool & District Artificial Breeders’ Co-operative Society Limited’ warrnambool co-operative society limited, farming in warrnambool and district

These cards were for use in connection with the Warrnambool Co-Op store. The Warrnambool Co-operative Society Limited was established in 1960 as the Allansford and District Artificial Breeders Co-operative Society Limited to provide herd improvement service to district farmers. In the mid 1970s the Co-Op opened a retail store in Warrnambool in Timor Street and gradually expanded, so that by the late 1990s they had 8000 members and employed 84 full time and 120 casual staff. The Co-Card enabled members to have trading arrangements with 200 other businesses. The Warrnambool Co-Op ceased operations in 2007.These cards are of interest as mementoes of the Warrnambool Co-Op, an important business concern in Warrnambool for over 40 years. The owner of the co-cards was Ronald Cumming. He and his wife. Leonie were members of the Historical Society for many years.These are two plasticised cards associated with the Warrnambool Co-Op. One is a Co-Card and the other is a Co-Op Charge Card used to receive discounts at other businesses. Both cards have bar codes. The larger card has a silver-coloured background with green printing and the smaller card is yellow with blue, black and yellow printing. Larger card - The Co-Op Co Card, 1204 B, Cumming Ronald J and ML (signed by Leonie Cumming on the back) Smaller card – The Co-Op Charge Card, 1204AA warrnambool co-operative society limited, co-card, warrnambool