This plate comes from the Commercial Hotel in Warrnambool. This hotel, situated on the north west corner of Liebig and Timor Streets, Warrnambool, was established in 1865. It was built by Thomas Mickle and the first licensee was Charles Anderson. From 1928 on the O’Dwyer family was associated with the Commercial Hotel, either as licensees or owners, for fifty years. The plate would have been first used during the times when Patrick O’Dwyer was the licensee – 1928-1931 and 1932 to 1934. Today the Commercial Hotel still trades as the Whalers Hotel.This plate is of interest as it is a memento of the 1920s and 30s when Patrick O’Dwyer was the licensee of the Commercial Hotel. This hotel, trading today as the Whalers Hotel, is the oldest hotel in Warrnambool and a prominent landmark in the city. This is a white china plate (dinner plate size) with the inner section slightly recessed. The plate has a black line around the outer rim and initials and a hotel name in a scroll pattern on one outer edge. The names of the maker and supplier are on the base of the plate and the top of the plate is somewhat stained. ‘P O’D Commercial Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Made expressly for John Dynon and Sons, Melbourne Vitrified Globe Pottery Co. Ltd Cobridge England’ commercial hotel / whalers hotel, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This trophy was given in 1872 by Richard Lane to the Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Association for the best four horses in waggon. The Villiers & Heytesbury Association was founded in 1854 with the first show held at Warrnambool in 1855. It still operates today as the Warrnambool Agricultural Society. Richard Lane owned and operated the Commercial Hotel ( now the Whalers Hotel) in Warrnambool in the 1870s and 80s. In 1872 Richard Lane was the chief figure in staging the first Warrnambool Winter steeple chase meeting that included the now famous Grand Annual Steeple Chase. He was a generous donor of trophies to the Warrrnambool races and the Warrnambool show. It appears that no one was awarded the trophy in 1872.This trophy is of considerable importance as it is connected to the prominent 19th Century Warrnambool hotel keeper and racing identity Richard Lane and to the early history of the Villiers & Heytesbury AssociationThis is a silver cup on a silver stand mounted on a wooden base. The cup and the silver stand are much ornamented with the stand representing a tree with the branches attached to the stem and projecting out. Portions of the branches are broken off and are loose inside the cup. The cup has two trees embossed and a relief of a wagon with a driver and four horses. The wooden base is ridged.Presented by Richard Lane Esq. to the Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Association for the best team of 4 horses in waggon exhibited at the show 1872.history of warrnambool, villiers & heytesbury association, richard lane

This poster is a time table for the coaches operated by Armstrong and Fraser.Their stables were in Liebig Street, Warrnambool next to the Commercial Hotel (The Whalers Hotel today) Armstrong and Fraser commenced business in 1882 and were prominent in Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The kept as many as 70 horses in their stables and operated a daily timetable for tourists especially those going to the mouth of the Hopkins River and to the breakwater. This poster is of considerable interest as the time table indicates the extensive business of an early coach service in Warrnambool over 100 years ago. The poster comes possibly from the old Warrnambool Museum.This is a sheet of paper containing black printing and handwriting in black ink. It is encased in a black wooden frame with a white cardboard surround and a black border. It has glass protection. There is string and wire at the back for hanging the item . ARMSTRONG* AND * FRASER Special line of buses Running to HOPKINS AND BREAKWATER TIME TABLE (Also other detail re fares, Proudfoot's boating establishment and horses and conveyances) ( Handwriting 87,90, 91 January to March July to Sept. April to June Jany to March) warrnambool, bus timetable, armstrong and fraser