This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, 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 WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the 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 areas 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 from 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. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY 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 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. 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. Back to Bool Bool Author: Brent of Bin Bin Publisher: William Blackwood & Sons Ltd Date: 1931 The label on the spine cover with typed text PAT FIC BRE Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library, with date received 5-32 Front loose end paper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service.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, back to bool bool, brent of bin bin, miles franklin

Murray Comrie Collection.Members of the Tarnagulla Tennis Club, posed as a group in front of the Club Shelter (now demolished). Some names of subjects handwritten on reverse. Also handwritten on reverse: 'L.Williams' and 'Leo Fitzgerald, "Clyde House", 182 Collins St, Melbourne'. This excellent photograph of the Tarnagulla Tennis Club members, c.1900, is oriented east to west. The main stormwater channel is at the rear of the shelter. Boy on the right at the back: Fred Radnell. Back row, from the left: unknown, F.Walker (chemist), unknown, unknown, William Harper (schoolmaster), Alice Joyce, Mary Comrie, unknown, Daniel Duggan, unknown, unknown, unknown, Ruth Langan, Thomas Page (printer). Middle row, from the left: Maud Renshaw, unknown, Emily Renshaw, Eliza Renshaw, Ruth Bool, Mrs Tom Leonard (Emma Davies) with child Viva Hale, Jessie Joyce, Front row, from the left, unknown, Emily Joyce, Annie Ison, Elsie Comrie, Florrie Bool, unknown. tarnagulla, sport, tennis, bool, dyer, page, renshaw, leonard, ison, nicholls

Murray Comrie Collection.Monochrome photograph of a group of children assembled in rows for a school photograph. Accompanied by two sets of handwritten notes (catalogued separately as a Research Notes) with children's names. Names of children combined from both set of notes are believed to be: Left to Right Back/4th row: Mary Allen, Sadie Taylor, Betty Radnell (Clara), Annie Atkin, Nell Alexander, Mavis Comrie, Annie Grey, Dulcie Goltz, Kath Duggan, Hazel Davis, Alice Duggan. 3rd row: Ethel Ramm, Olive Jenkins, Mary Bool, Nell Reilly (or Rielly), Edna Jenkins, Lil Andrews, Betty Radnell, Winnie Duggan, Len Ramm, Bert Stevens, Keith Castleman. 2nd row: Ken McKenzie, Maurice Chambers, Andy Graham (Cec Williams), Fred Bool, Len Chambers, Les Caldwell, Wally Harwood, Joe Falder, Bert Caldwell, Geo Banks. Front/1st row: Phil Andrews, J. Jones, B. Stevens, Gilbert Ramm, Jim Duggan, Maurice Power, N.Carroll, Keith Chambers.tarnagulla, school, education, children, andrews, alexander, allen, atkin, banks, bool, caldwell, carroll, castleman, chambers, comrie, davis, duggan, falder, golz, goltz, graham, grey, harwood, jenkins, jones, mckenzie, power, rielly, reilly, radnell, stevens, ramm, taylor

Murray Comrie Collection. Subjects are posed in front of a building known locally as Victoria Hotel, now the Tarnagulla Public Hall.. Monochrome photograph of soldiers in uniform assembled in front of Victoria Hotel, in the main street of Tarnagulla. The men in uniform are all returned soldiers from the Tarnagulla district. They were drawn together to form the Guard of Honour on the occasion of the unveiling of the nearby War Memorial. Accompanied by a note that gives the following names: (Left to Right) Back Row: 1. _________ 2. George Graham 3. _____________ 4. Bob Clark 5. Joe Harwood Middle Row: 1. W. Kilgour 2. Perc. Ison 3. Lew Allen 4. Sam Patterson 5. Harry Bool 6. Bob Abbott 7. Will Smith Front Row: 1. Arthur Whimpey 2. Sgt ___ Graham 3. Les Radnell 4. Dave Roper 5. Fred Jackson 6. Bill James (David Gordon notes: This is not William James. He had been KIA by the time of the photograph.) tarnagulla, war, military, service, soldiers, veterans, ww1, first world war, graham, clark, harwood, kilgour, ison, allen, patterson, bool, whimpey, radnell, roper, jackson, james, abbott, smith

Murray Comrie Collection. Monochrome photograph depicting members of Tarnagulla Tennis Club posed as a group on the side of the Tarnagulla Tennis Club court, with the Club shelter behind. An accompanying note identifies some of the subjects: Boys at back: 1. ______ 2. _________ 3. Fred Radnell Back row: 1. __________ 2. Walker (chemist) 3. ________(F) 4. ________(F) 5. Mr. Harper 6. Alice Joyce 7. _______(F) 8. Mary Comrie 9. _________ (F) 10. Dan Duggan 11. _______(F) 12._______(F) 13._______(F) 14. Ruth Langan 15. Tom Page Seated/middle row: 1. Maud Renshaw 2. _______(F) 3. Emily Renshaw 4. Eliza Renshaw 5. Ruth Bool 6. Mrs Leonard (Emma Davies) with child Viva Hale in front 7. Jess Joyce. Seated on ground: 1. _______(M) 2. Emily Joyce 3. Annie Ison 4. Elsie Comrie 5. Florrie Bool 6. (M) possibly Dr. Donovan. This fair quality copy was made from an older original photograph, probably in the late 1960s. tarnagulla, tennis, sport, clubs, people, walker, radnell, harper, joyce, comrie, duggan, langan, renshaw, bool, leonard, davies, hale, ison, donovan