A damaged vintage red covered fiction book, The Virginians by W M. Thackeray. The title and author are printed in gold lettering on the spine. The title page has full details including the publisher. Thackeray illustrated the book. The frontispiece illustration shows people inside a church with the heading 'The Family Pew - P. 75'. At the back are several recommended titles for reading. There is a Bookplate pasted onto the right front end paper.Pp. 516.A story about British society during the late colonial era in North America. Two brothers rival for heir to the family fortune. George Washington is a neighbour.historical fiction, family life fiction, fiction books, fiction - american

A light grey cloth covered book titled Velveteens. A Norfolk Story by Edward Gilliat, M.A., Assistant Master in Harrow School. Illustrated by F. Barnard. The title is printed in yellow decorative lettering at the top of the front cover with a brown illustration of a man hunting with a rifle and dogs. The author's name is at the bottom in brown lettering. Inside is a Bookplate. Opposite the title page is a frontispiece black and white illustration for P.33, titled "Dead? Who's dead?" asked the squire. Publishing details are noted on the title page which has a faded tissue paper page. There is a Contents page, listing XXX chapters. Each chapter has at the top of the page a decorative nature illustration inside a rectangular box. P.125 has another black and white full page illustration. 250 Pp. At the back are lists of Publications of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. fictionA family story set in the countryside in County Norfolk in England in the late 1800's.It has strong religious themes. The father, a gamekeeper to a Squire, was shot dead by poachers and the family has to survive and continue to manage the land they live on.religious books, religious fiction, family life fiction, english fiction, children's fiction

Brown fabric covered hardcover novel with black floral and patterned design on front cover with title and author in ornate gold lettering - Married Life by Emma Jane Worboise. Spine has title, author and sun design at bottom with Christian World Library written in gold lettering.fictionA young married couple navigate the ups and downs of wedded life, their growing family and developing their business. Strong religious themes throughout.marriage fiction, family life fiction, religion fiction

A large thick, heavy green hardcover Girl's Own Annual Volume 46 with a large square picture depicting two women walking in the snow holding bunches of holly. The title is in red print and there is holly surrounding the illustration. The spine has the title printed in gold lettering, holly leaves and Vol 46 in black type at the bottom. It is a 1924 edition of this series. The end papers show green tinted woods and a stream. The coloured frontispiece is of a woman decorating a Christmas Tree from the story - The Christmas Fairy. Tissue paper protects this page. The contents of the book are for girls and women with stories, knitting and sewing patterns, handy home hints, factual information and more. There is an emphasis on Royal Family life. Inside is a 1997 religious bookmark for a Ekankar Seminar, Brisbane Australia. A bookplate is pasted at the front of the book. non-fictionThe contents of the book are for girls and women with stories, knitting and sewing patterns, handy home hints, factual information and more. There is an emphasis on Royal Family life.books, children's books, awards, adventure stories, family life fiction, family life

A very damaged, stained red antique hardcover book for girls with the title printed in gold lettering in the middle of the front cover. There is a gold outlined drawing of a girl sitting looking out of a window. There are red flowers and green leaves decorating the cover. The spine has the title printed in gold letters with red flowers and green leaves.On the front right side end paper is an inscription for a Sabbath School award dated 1882. The frontispiece balck and white illustration is of a girl sitting at a table at a fair. Tissue paper protects it. The title page has the title, author Howe Benning as well as publisher details. 296Pp. Throughout are black and white illustrations. There are four pages at the back are lists of Recent Gift Books published by the Religious Tract Society. The spine is broken from the pages.fictionThe book is an example of a story dealing with a girl's (Margaret) life in America which is readable, pleasing and instructive, without the ordinary excitement of a love story. It has strong religious themes. It hopes that in many 'quiet corners" of our native land it may help to develop the spirit of self-sacrifice and true Christian thought for others.religious stories, family life fiction, stories for girls

A small red self patterned Collins Illustrated Pocket Classics novel The Caxtons: A Family Picture. It is very badly damaged with the spine coming away from the pages, loose pages and tears. Pages 3,4 and 5 are missing. The frontispiece opposite the title page is a black and white illustration of three well dressed men of the period standing talking in a sitting room. A few black and white illustrations are throughout the book. At the back are four pages of Collins' Illustrated Pocket Classics for further reading. Pp 632.fictionThe Caxtons: A Family Picture is an 1849 Victorian novel that was popular in its time. The book was first serialised anonymously in Blackwood's Magazine from April 1848 to October 1849 and first published as a novel in 1849. Victorian novels were characterised by depictions of everyday people, hard lives and moral lessons. They were meant for more than just entertainment. Victorians were interested in the hero as well as folk art. Victorian novels often focused on these themes.family life fiction, religious fiction, morals fiction

Tan coloured floral fabric hardcover novel, Mildred's Boys and Girls by Martha Finley (Martha Farquharson) with black lettering for title and author. Spine has title, author and publisher in black lettering and a coloured flower.fictionA family story of Mildred's life with her children and husband set in the time of the Civil War in America. The Landreths harbour a family of fugitive slaves and fear the possibility of sending fathers, sons brothers and cousins off to fight. Strong religious themes throughout.family life fiction, civil war united states, children's fiction, religious fiction

Small blue hardcover children's book - The Treasure on the Beach and what it did for Gilbert West by M.A.P. The front cover has a black floral design which continues onto the spine and the back, with the title surrounded in gold boxes and the word, Illustrated, in gold lettering underneath. On the back is a symbol for the publisher Sunday School Union. Black and white illustrations throughout with one on the frontispiece of Gilbert West on the beach. Black and white illumination style lettering is used for the first word of each new chapter. Tissue paper covers the title page. 107p.fictionA young boy finds what he thinks is treasure when he walks along the beach near his home. The story has religious themes and depicts family life in England in the late 1800'schildren's fiction, family life fiction, adventure stories

Blue cloth covered hardcover Children's book with the title in gold lettering, Gentleman Jackson by H. Frederick Charles. A gold, black and red illustration is featured on the front cover of a man saving a young boy from a house on fire by lowering him in a knotted sheet. The spine has the title, a picture of a boy holding a book and the initials RTS in gold. Black and white illustrations are throughout with the same front cover one at the frontispiece opposite the title page. There is a tissue paper page protecting it. 255p. At the back are 16 pages of The Religious Tract Society's List of Books for Presentation. 255p.fictionA story of a young boy Ned and his difficult life growing up in England in the late 1800's with a drunken father and mother who dies. He is a kind boy and becomes a young man who does good deeds for many people. Religious themes throughout.religious stories, adventure stories, family life fiction

A small badly damaged brown hardcover book with a floral and lined pattern in black on the front cover and spine including the title Little Christmas and her friends which is difficult to see due to its poor condition. Black and white illustrations throughout with a father and daughter reading depicted on the title page. Book is badly water damaged and mould marks seen. The back cover has The Religious Tract Society symbol is embossed on the back cover. 160p.fictionA story of family life in the 1800's with it's trials and tribulations. Strong religious themes throughout.family life fiction, religous stories

Brown fabric hardcover book - Eveline's Key-Note by Edith C. Kenyon has an illustration in black. pink and green of two young women sitting on a garden seat with a girl lying on the grass next to them reading. In the background a couple are chatting. The top of the edges of the pages are gold. The Endeavour Library is written at the top in black lettering with the title in yellow underneath. The spine has the title, series and publisher initials at the bottom for The Sunday School Union, The frontispiece has a black and white illustration the same as is on the front cover. and there are five full page black and white illustrations throughout. The chapter heads have an Illuminated style decoration called a vignette. 192p.fictionVictorian fiction with a moral slant for young women about life, growing up and relationships in an English village. family life fiction, religious stories

This green cloth hardcover book has a colourful paper dustjacket depicting a mother with a small boy wearing a sailor suit sitting on her knee. Portraits on the wall, an oriental screen near a small table with knick knacks and a vase of flowers completes the scene. The title is printed at the top in red lettering with the author's name underneath. The spine is coloured in pink and blue lettering with the spine, a picture of a boy and the publisher Shaw at the bottom. On the back of the dustjacket is a list - Uniform with this Volume of 16 titles to read, with another book by M. Seymour, That Boy Tom. Inside on the right endpaper is an Award Bookplate.The frontispiece coloured illustration is the same as the one on the dustjacket. Pp.128fictionA family with six children, the youngest, Charlie, being six years old. Their grandfather is estranged from the family and Charlie wishes to visit him. The grandfather, Mr Maxwell invites Charlie to live with him so the child goes as the family ambassador. It has religious and strong family themes.religious stories, family life, children's fiction

This novel, Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' by E.D. Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley 1877-1962), is a children’s adventure story about an Australian indigenous boy who was educated in a mission and worked as a 'black tracker’ for the police to hunt down criminals in the bush and mountain region of the Grampian Ranges of Victoria. Oakely's parents, Thomas and Eliza, had a farm in Warrnambool called 'Oakbank'. Oakley worked at various jobs in the local district and later had his own wheat farms. When he returned to Warrnambool to build commercial premises and work in the retail industry. His influence encouraged Fletcher Jones to open a shop in Warrnambool. His novel - Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' - was written after he retired. The copy of the book in our collection does not have a publication date. The National Library of Australia lists two editions of this book, one dated 1938, the other is undetermined. It was published as part of a series called the Marcie Muir Collection of Australian children's books. No reference has been found to the author or any further works by him/her. The novel was reprinted as a reproduction in 2017 as a paperback and a leather bound edition 'Classic Reprint' by Forgotten Books. 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 November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. This novel is historically significant for its story, representing the changes to Australian Indigenous culture and life after colonisation. The book appears to be that this is the only work written by E.D. Oakley. It is locally significant for being written by an early prominent Warrnambool family member. Jimmy of Murrumbar : A Story of the Amazing Ability and Fidelity of an Australian Black Tracker Author: E D Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley) Publisher: Osboldstone & Co, Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia The label on the spine with typed text R.A. 823 OAK The front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Children’s Library shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, 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, jimmy of murrumbar, e d oakley, edward daniel oakley, novel, young adult novel, juvenile fiction, australian black tracker, law enforcement - police trackers, tracking and trailing in australia, australian bush, grampian ranges in victoria, warrnambool history, fletcher jones, oakbank, thomas and eliza oakley, indigenous literature, indigenous australians

Front cover has an illustration showing two people, one carrying a rifle, a donkey and a large boa constrictor. In the background is a tree-house and a bay of water with a small boat floating in the water. The back cover has a list of Hamly Classic books and the details of the publisher of the book.fictionThe Swiss Family Robinson-father, mother and four young sons - are callously abandoned on a sinking ship near the rocky shore of an unknown land. the father, a man of unbounded energy and resourcefulness, makes a raft by means of which they ferry themselves and many useful goods to the shore. They establish a camp and are later able to salvage much of the cargo. Their first home, a tree-house, is later abandoned in favour of a cave which they convert into a permanent residence. their New Switzerland abounds in wild life and useful trees and plants, and they are able to lead a happy and diligent life farming, hunting, fishing and devising means of supplying all their household needs. Many years pass and the lads grow up strong and adventurous. At last the discovery of another castaway and the eventual arrival of a rescue ship set them the problem - to return to Europe or to remain in New Switzerland?swiss family robinson, shipwreck, switzerland, johann r. wyss, fiction

294 p. : pale blue cover embossed with pattern of leaves/treesfictionBook centres around the life of Joseph Quinney, a London antique dealer. Explores Quinney's relationship with his family, his business rivalries, love, and romance. fiction, antique dealers, horace annesley vachell

Hardcover book which is the first of a series describing the life of a Chinese family from 1908 to the present day (1945). 206 pages. Book plate pasted to rear cover, indicating prior ownership: 'Griffiths Booksellers and Stationers Geelong.' Stamps inside book: 'This belongs to W. J. Griffiths Circulating Library'.fictionChinese culture and history novel. The first in a series of novels describing the life of a Chinese family from 1908 to present day.robert payne, chinese culture, chinese history, fiction

406p.; includes Book the First, Book the Second, Book the Third; red cover with black decorated borderfictionThe life of Mervyn Clitheroe, a boy who is orphaned at a young age and is taken in by his uncle. As Mervyn grows older, he becomes more curious about his uncle's past and begins to investigate. He uncovers a web of deceit and corruption that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.fiction, william harrison ainsworth, family saga

529p. : beige cover with black decorationfictionGabriella is a young woman from a good family who has fallen on hard times. Forced to get a job that puts her between social groups, Gabriella embarks on a treacherous journey through the social strata of turn-of-the-century Richmond, Virginiafiction, romance, ellen glasgow

166 p. : brown cover embossed with illustrations of flowers in yellow, pink and blue. Same illlustration in brown tones on endpapers. Title embossed in gold on front cover, with author attribution as a signature across centre. Publisher's logo on back cover. fiction Dorothea Kirke is a young woman who is determined to live a life of service to others. She faces challenges, including family opposition and financial difficulties, but remains committed to her goal and eventually finds success in her chosen path. She ultimately decides that service to others is more important than personal happiness.fiction, annie s. swan

303 p. : brown cover imprinted in black with with geometric design. Title and attribution ("by the author of John Halifax, Gentleman") imprinted on front cover in black, and on spine in gold.fictionfiction, dinah maria mulock craik

Hardcover novel, Cross Corners by Anna B Werner with red cover and coloured illustration of a young girl seated on a chair reading with her dog at her side. Black lettering for title and author on cover and spine which also has a floral pattern and publisher listed.fictionA late 18th Century novel with religious themes. The life of a young girl in the late 1800's and her family.fiction, children's books, books, religion

Dark green fabric covered novel, Mother's Little Girl by Ethel Turner (Mrs H.R. Curlewis) and illustrated by A.J. Johnson, with gold lettering on front cover for title and author with a gold illustration of two children sitting on a bank. Spine has gold title and author and floral pattern. Has black and white illustrations throughout.fictionAn Australian story of a family that has too many children and not enough money, so gave up for adoption their last baby, Sylvia to its aunt. young people's fiction, australian fiction, family life

Faded khaki coloured Children's fiction book - with the title Con's Acre by Mrs C.M. Clarke written in yellow lettering in a box at the top surrounded by yellow and pink flowers. Author's name in black is at the bottom underneath an illustration of a man helping a lady alight from a carriage with another woman close by. 160p.fictionA story about young women growing up in England with the trials and tribulations of young love and friendship. Family life in the late 1800's is depicted with strong religious themes. religious stories, family life stories

A red cloth hardcover book The Two J.G's - A story for Boys by A.M. Irvine with a black outline of a boy reading at the top of the front cover. The spine has the title, author and publisher in black lettering. The frontispiece has a black and white illustration of a man and boy rescuing a boy from a river. 96p.fictionA story about two teenager boys who swap identities to fool a long term older man who has kindly offered to take them in to his care to tutor them due to the boys' family and behaviour problems. fiction boys, family life, friendship stories

p.429.fictionPortrays the married life of Henrietta Stuart, known as Minette, who married into the French royal family in the mid-seventeenth century. In particular it focuses on her careful diplomatic relationship with her brother Charles II, climaxing in the Treaty of Doverengland - fiction, historical fiction