Land sales advertising poster with map indicating specific lots of land for sale.A land sales map and advertisementimportant subdivisional sale of freehold land yaloak vale estate, land sales

The Millbrook ruins are on a property which was created by John Pascoe Fawkner's Victoria Co-operative Freehold Land Investment Society. The aims of the company were to provide smallholdings to poorer settlers who wanted to farm. The ruins are now part of the Organ Pipes Park.A coloured photograph of stone ruins built on a hillside with sheoaks and other vegetation behind it. There is a doorway at the end of the small building.fawkner, john pascoe, millbrook ruin, jacksons creek, organ pipes park, victorian co-operative freehold land investment society, george evans collection

This map was drawn up by the City of Warrnambool Council staff to provide information on the land in Warrnambool that was owned or managed by the Council.This map is of considerable importance as it gives information in map form of the Warrnambool land that is owned (freehold) by the City of Warrnambool and the land that is managed Crown land. This is of interest to researchers and those seeking information on specific areas of land in Warrnambool.This map has digital mapping. The map has a white background with black and white mapping details of Warrnambool. It has the City of Warrnambool seal. Scale of map: 1:7500warrnambool city council, warrnambool

Cream Document, W.D.Mason Collection, particulars and conditions of Sale of Freehold Land at Strathfieldsaye to Melva Joan Mason. Dated 25.2.1947.business, retail, w d mason

Cream Documents, W.D.Mason Collection, Particulars and Conditions of Sale of Freehold Land at Strathfieldsaye to Wavertree Ellen Mason. Dated 3.9.1946 envelope, receipt and letter.business, retail, w d mason

Printed Particulars and Conditions of Sale of Freehold Land dated 25 October 1888. Richard O'Neill, agent for John Holmes sold land in Baxter Street (Lot 79) to James Murray Aitken for £39. 2 bright green Victoria One Penny Stamp Duty attached.business, legal, connelly & tatchell, connelly & tatchell collection - document, transfer of land statute-particulars and conditions of sale, john holmes, james murray aitken, richard o'neill & co, brockley - printer, geo w hosken

Red covered auction catalogue with black printing for a sale held on the 20th March 1975 at the Harcourt Co-operative Limited. For sale was extensive hardware stocks, workshop & general plant, timber and motor vehicles. Also approx. 2 1/2 acres Freehold Land and some buildings. J. H. Curnow & Son Pty Ltd. were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - harcourt co-operative limited, geoff o harrison hall & rose, j h curnow & son pty ltd, f c dyett, c hill, i m dyett, bolton bros print

Conditions of sale by private contract dated 15th October, 1929 between R.A. Wilkinson (seller) and E.L. Thomas for freehold land situate 18 McClure Street, Ironbark being Crown allotment 497 section K described in Crown grant volume 2471 folio 494141, together with 5-roomed stone, wood and brick dwelling and all sundry. Price 270 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Cream Document, W.D.Mason collection, Conditions of Sale, Freehold Land in Albion Street, Bendigo. T.C.Watts Auctioneer and Real Estate Agent, Sworn Valuator, Albion Chambers, View Street, Bendigo. Four land allotments were sold in Albion St, off Condon St., on 28.6.1910 for seventy Pounds. The vendor was Mr John R Daley of Elwood who sold to Owen Williams, Condon St, Bendigo.Cambridge & Young, Printers, Market Square.business, retail, w d mason

Aged 17, Edwin Thomas Penny took over the 10 acres of freehold land held by his deceased father, Thomas Penny. Edwin Penny developed a reputation as an innovative orchardist and market gardener who grew apples, plums, passion fruit, peaches, pears, and lemons, and between the trees he planted potatoes, rhubarb and other vegetables.Sepia toned digital image of the Penny family. Back row left to right: Clifford Penny, Reubin Penny, Edwin Penny. Front row left to right: Albert Penny, Edwin Thomas Penny, Hilda Penny and Lytton Pennymarket garden, orchards, fruit, vegetables, moorabbin, cheltenham

The Ballarat Technology Park site consists of 28.8 hectares of freehold land zoned for technology Purposes. The development plan for the Park was prepared by the City of Ballarat. The construction of the ISSC Southern Regional Data Centre was the first stage of the project. ISSC Southern Regional Data centre is a $12.5 million building development at the corner of Geelong Road and gear Avenue. The building was constructed by H. Troon Pty Ltd. White card program for the Release of Technology Park Plans and Laying of Foundation Stone. ballarat technology park, issc southern region data centre, troon, david james, geoffrey blainey, bruce clark, john bligh, roger hallam, campus plan

Conditions of sale issued by Smalley, Balmer & Davies solicitors, Swan Hill and dated 24th January 1925 between H. A. Wilkinson as seller and J. G. Walker as buyer. Particulars and conditions of sale of freehold land, particulars: the surface and down to a depth of fifty feet below the surface of all that piece of land being part of Crown Allotment 6 Suburban Section 2 town of Swan Hill, Parish of Castle Donnington County of Tatchera and being the whole of the land described in certificate of title volume 4390 folio 877911. Price 400 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Conditions of sale of freehold land & dwelling by private contract dated 2nd April, 1930, issued by T.C. Watts 7 Son licensed Real Estate Agents between R. Fletcher and T.G. Fletcher executors of the will of R.H Fletcher deceased (sellers) and J. Prior (buyer) for land being Crown allotment 5 section 24 at Eaglehawk having frontage to Campbell Street of 85 links by a depth along Church Street of 223.5 links, land described in certificate of title volume 1541 folio 308073, together with all buildings and erection thereon. Price 415 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Three red covered auction catalogues for a sale on the 7th April, 1976 at Andersons (R. G. Long) Quartz Crushing Pty. Ltd. And Allenvale Mining & Contracting Pty. Ltd., Bendigo. Crushing and Quarrying Plants. For sale were Corr. Iron building, excavators, front end loaders, electric crane on Chev. 6 x 6 truck, compressors, tip trucks, primary and secondary crushers, electric motors, elevators, steel workshop and general plant and equipment. Also approx. 3/4 acre Freehold land. J. H. Curnow & Son Pty. Ltd. Were the auctioneers.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - andersons (r. g. long) quartz crushing pty. ltd, allenvale mining & contracting pty ltd, j h curnow & son pty ltd, f c dyett, c hill, i m dyett, bolton bros print

Jean-Pierre Trouette was natuarlised in 1862 the year he, his wife Anne (nee Blampied) and her brother Emile purchased land at Great Western and established the Great Western wineries. Unless a person was a Victorian citizen they could not own freehold land and run a business. This certificate testifies to Trouette's legal status and entitlement to establish the Great Western vineyards. At the Intercolonial Exhibition in Melbourne in 1866 his wines were noticed and was noted also in 1867. His vineyard was named St Peter's and visitors included Hubert de Castella in 1882. blampied, trouette, great western, st peter's, intercolonial exhibition, naturalisation, henry barkly

Land became freehold, purchased by Jack Phillips.Colour photograph of a white painted brick residence with corrugated iron roof, sash windows, Set in bushland overlooking Lake Tyers, built on the site of the Mill Point saw mill at Mill Point Toorloo Arm Victoriahouses, heritage study

This ledger relates to the property Kenilworth which is situated near Cavendish, 16 miles from Hamilton on the Wannon River. It was taken up by Thomas Norris in 1839 and originally carried 800 cattle and 20000 sheep on 63000 acres. By 1858 it was in the hands of John Mackersey and Thomas Bostock. In 1859 it belonged outright to John Mackersey who was there until 1870. He was considered a worthy son of a Presbyterian minister and was well regarded in the district for his contributions in church, sport and sheep breeding... However he did not do well and lost the property before going to New Zealand in 1870. These journals provide a yearly record of flock, harvest and yields along with income details. It also provides details relating to rentals, selections and purchases during the era from squatting to freehold land. This journal provides a detailed view of matters relating to the business of sheep farming. It records purchases and stock sold, wool clips, lambs, sheep losses and different breeds. Kenilworth was a significant property in the Western District of Victoria and it dates from a period of early settlement in Victoria.Dark green hard cover with gold lettering. Both covers have in gold lettering: John Mackersey1826-1892 Stock Book 1857-1870. One cover has Horses and cattle and the other, sheep. It is a facsimile copy. The two sections are divided by a green sheet of paper. Acknowledgements to The State Government of Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Hamilton History Centre, Dr G Handbury AO, Margaret Gardiner, Godfrey and Margaret Mackersey, L Alan Brumley, M P Heuval. john mackersey, thomas bostock, thomas norris, kenilworth, history of warrnambool

Bendigo Amalgamated Gold Fields Ltd. To Miss G. Alice Jones. Re You V Geo Lakey - County court Summons £59.18.3. Scale C, Sale to Ennor. To Osgood, Land Tax, You V Brauman C. C. S. No. 27 (Special) Scale D £137.1.7, You V Brauman C.C.S. No. 38 (Ordinary), You V Brauman C.C.S. 1924 No. 43 (Special) £137.1.7., Clarence Freeholds-Sale to Bowden, Sea Co. Machinery & Freehold land, Land transferred from New Vic. Catherine Co., re Koch's Pioneer G.M. Co. N.L. transfer of G.M. Lease No 9791 Bendigo, re North Ulster G.M. Co. N.L. transfer of G.M Lease No. 9789 Bendigo. Details of costs and dates varying from June 28, 1923, to March 30, 1925.Also dated 3/6/25 and Pd 30/7/25.the miss g. alice jones collection - account, bendigo amalgamated goldfields ltd, geo lakey, mr stanfield, mr jn smalley, mr thomson, mr crow, mr ennor, osgood, mylon, mrs murdock, constable thomson, brauman, mr miller, melbourne sun, clarence freeholds, j h curnow & son, gazette, sea co, mr legge, mr skews, h m legge & co, new vic catherine co, koch's pioneer g m co nl, north ulster g m co nl, g m lease no 9789 bendigo

Kralcopic Pty Ltd, was a subsidiary of Bendigo-based company GBM Gold and had previously held mining licences around Bendigo, which incorporated sites including Kangaroo Flat, New Moon, Eaglehawk and the associated Woodvale Evaporation Ponds Complex. In August 2019, the Earth Resources Regulator decided not to renew Kralcopic’s three mining licences, due to the company’s inability to provide surety that it could finance its mining activities and site rehabilitation obligations. In October 2020, the company filed legal proceedings in the Supreme Court challenging the decision not to renew these licences. The Supreme Court later upheld the regulator’s decision not to renew the licences. On 23 April 2021, the Federal Court of Australia appointed KPMG as Kralcopic’s liquidators. On 14 May 2021, the liquidator lodged papers with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to disclaim Kralcopic’s freehold land at Woodvale and parcels of land around the company’s former Bendigo sites, with the land to subsequently become Crown land. The Earth Resources Regulator has put a statutory exemption in place to preclude new mining licence applications on the sites while we undertake rehabilitation. The exemption also provides an opportunity for government to consider future uses of the sites in consultation with the City of Greater Bendigo and the local community. The Earth Resources Regulator holds rehabilitation bonds totalling $5.9 million, which it will use to rehabilitate the former sites.Colour photocopy of original photo. Image shows Catherine Reef South shaft with rectangular concrete capping. Ventilation pipe in concrete capping. On back in pencil: Catherine Reef South shaft with cap - Kralcopicwestern mining corporation, goldmining, capping, shaft, mining regulations, williams united shaft, kralcopic

This folder contains the official Inspector's reports for House Creek School Number 2266. Inspections were carried out every six months for all Victorian Government Schools. On 8th October 1879 Mathew Parnaby and others applied for the establishment of a school, between Huon and House Creeks, about four miles southwest of Wodonga. The District Inspector approved and Albert Schlink offered two acres of freehold land as a site, four chains from the southeast corner of Allotment Eight, Section 10, of the Parish of Wodonga in the County of Bogong. A portable classroom, 22ft x14ft, with quarters was erected at a total cost of £192, and SS2266 opened on 1st of June 1880 with Edwin Davis as Head Teacher. In 1883 the average attendance ranged between 12 and 20. Both school and quarters fell into a very bad state of repair. Temporarily closed in 1894, the school reopened as a result of a petition by Ferdinand Godde and others. By 1902 the school had a nett enrolment of 37, the grounds had been fenced, and a shelter shed erected by local effort. By 1907 the nett enrolment had risen to 45 with an average attendance of 37. Ferdinand V. Godde served as Correspondent of the Committee in 1911. House Creek was unstaffed in February 1917 and closed on 8th of November 1917. It reopened on 4th August 1921, but with a nett enrolment of 6, closed on the 24th July 1926. The building was sold for removal. Many of the reports in this Register were written and signed by Henry Finch Rix. He was a pioneer of the Victorian School Inspection System and from 1884 to 1887 worked as a Chief Inspector in the Beechworth Education District. He had previously played with the Carlton Football Club for one season. Henry Rix was a highly regarded educator and a staunch advocate of the establishment of school libraries to teach children of "the rich stores of profitable pleasure to be found in books."This item is significant because it documents progress and recommendations for students at an early government primary school in the Wodonga district.A large bound folder of printed forms. The majority have been completed in handwritten reports including names, notes and statistics. On cover: INSPECTOR'S REGISTER BOOK STATE SCHOOLShenry finch rix, house creek school, victorian school inspectors, school 2266

Popular Grampian Mountains (The Blue Mountains of Victoria) Saturday, 1st April, 1922 at 12 o'clock On the property Halls Gap, 17 miles from Stawell Mitchell Bros & White under instructions from the Administrator of Lulu Barnes, deceased, and Mr A. H. Barnes, will offer by public auction on the property, the well known Tourist Accomodation (sic) House, "Killarney" together with 29 acres of freehold land, household furniture, stock, vehicles and sundries. The buildings consist main building of 8 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, vestibule, front and side passages, with verandah on front and side of building, also 3 roomed cottage with bathroom, 5 chalets containing 7 bedrooms, storeroom. wash house, water and gas laid on throughout. 4 cars, cow sheds, yards, pens, and sundry outbuildings. The furniture is all in first class order, consisting of beds and bedding for 30 visitors. Carl Ecko piano, splendid instrument; overmantle (sic) suites of furniture, extension tables, card tables, book case, sideboard, cupboards, dining table and chairs, linoleums, mats, wardrobes, duchess-chests, washstands and ware, curtains, pictures, ornaments, iron safe, kitchen tables, chairs, stove, separator, copper, large assortment of glassware, crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, and everything necessary for running the house. Rolling stock and C, consisting of 5 buggy and saddle ponies, 2 milch (sic) cows, 4 head young cattle, 3 pigs, 30 fowls, single seated hooded rubber tyred buggy, nearly new, 2 seated drag, carry seven, in good order; double seated buggy, gig, waggonette (sic), carry one ton; lorry, spring dray, double furrow disc plough, garden plow (sic), roller, garden roller. 6 saddles and bridles, almost new, large quantity of heavy and light harness, swing bars, chains, and numerous sundries. NOTE - The property will be offered with furniture, rolling stock & c., as a going concern at 12 o'clock sharp; and if not sold the furniture, stock, & C., will be offered TERMS AT SALE. MITCHELL BROS. & WHITE. AuctioneersTyped extract of advertisement for auction of Killarney from Stawell News 25-3-1922 later known as Grampians Housemedia, newspaper articles, guesthouses, killarney

Tennysons Hotel Sackville Street Port Fairy Patrick Tennyson leased the Farmers Inn in 1882 and applied to change the name to Tennysons Hotel. In 1885 he bought the freehold in the Great Land Sale for 780.12.8 (Pounds, shillings and pence) and then carried out extensive renovations. This double storied addition was added in 1893. The hotel continued under various licensees until it burned down in 1977 under the name "Fishermen's Arms". This photograph was taken during the licencee W J WrightBlack and white photograph of facade of two story building hotel, sackville street, port fairy, tennysons, fishermens arms, farmers inn, w.j.wright

BHS CollectionBlack and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular grey board. House, rendered, tiled roof, porch with pillars, 1 chimney, small paned windows, woven crinkled wire fence, gates with cyclone wire and wrought iron. On back of photo: 'J. Nanniche's, Old Violet St., Geo Phillips. 15 Dec. 1927. Sewered. £1175 ( crossed out ) £1400, 32/6 wk. Lease is out about 2 months. 31/7/34' 22b shows plan of house, drawn on parchment coloured paper. On RH corner, Violet Street, property, as quoted 9.9.29. Land Freehold 78' x 220'building, residential, j. nanniche, old violet street, t.c. watts and son

Tennysons Hotel Sackville Street Port Fairy Patrick Tennyson leased the Farmers Inn in 1882 and applied to change the name to Tennysons Hotel. In 1885 he bought the freehold in the Great Land Sale for 780 pounds.12 shillings and 8 pence and then carried out extensive renovations. The double storied addition was added in 1893. The hotel continued under various licensees until it burned down in 1977 under the name "Fishermen's Arms". This photograph was taken during the licencee W J Wright; the single story was the Farmers InnBlack and white photograph of facade of Hearn’s hotel with two advertising signs for beerhotel, sackville street, tennysons hotel, farmers inn, fishermen’s arms, inn, w.j.wright, patrick tennyson

The small building on the left is the Farmers Inn, and was built about 1849, when James Brown became the first licensee. In 1854 John Walwyn Taylor moved from the Sally Ann to take over, and remained there until 1857, when he moved to his new hotel The Star of the West built on the old Sally Ann site. John Wall then became the new licensee of the Farmers Inn. In 1876 his wife Bridget made an application for the license to be transferred to her as “her husband suffered from rheumatism, and there were certain other reasons why the license should be transferred to her hands”. The Bench wondered about creating a precedence of granting a license to a married woman, who was living with her husband, (licenses were only granted to the widows of licensees at that time), so the application was postponed for 14 days, but eventually Mrs Wall won her case. In 1882 Patrick Tennyson took over the lease of the Farmer’s Inn and applied to change the name to Tennyson’s Hotel. In 1885 he bought the freehold in the Great Land Sale for £780. 12s. 8d., and in December, carried out extensive renovations. The local press reported that “the rooms were quite tasteful, the Billiard room commodious and well ventilated, and that the old hotel had not looked so good for years”. The double storied part of the hotel was added in 1893. Patrick Tennyson had a colourful career. He was born in Charlemont, County Armagh in 1846. When he was 21, he served as a papal guard at the Vatican for 2 years and then entered the Marist Brothers novitiate in Beauchamps. In 1872 he was one of three brothers to accompany Brother Ludovic to Sydney; he was then aged 23. After 5 years he withdrew from the Congregation and moved to Victoria, where he took up teaching, first at Rosedale near Sale, then at Crossley, by which time he was married to Anne White. They had eight children, three dying in infancy. Eight months after he took over the Farmers’ Inn, he was elected to the Borough Council, and served as Mayor in 1897. His great interest was sport, was Secretary of the Race Club for 20 years and supported the local Football Club by donating a silver cup for local competitions. Patrick Tennyson died in 1904. The hotel continued under various licensees until it burned down in 1977 under the name of “The Fishermen’s Arms”. Well known main street hotel no longer exists Sepia photograph of 2 story building with tiled wainscoting male and 2 females in doorway and 2 females in window upstairshotel, building, sackville street, patrick tennyson, w.j.wright

The Birds of Australia is a 12 volume work, in a total of 14 books. The books were used as an ornithological handbook. They contain scientific text as well as over 600 hand-coloured lithographed plates by J.G. Keulemans, H. Grönvold, Roland Green, H. Goodchild and G.E. Lodge. The work was written, sponsored and organised by Gregory M. Matthews, F.R.S.C. Erc. who were a wealthy Australian and an amateur ornithologist? His titles included – -Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies of London -Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union -Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union The volumes in our collection were originally donated to the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library by William Lindsay. THE LINDSAYS (quoted from the book Of Many Things – A History of Warrnambool Shire by C.E. Sayers) The Lindsays were amongst the most prominent families in the Shire of Warrnambool, as pastoralists, sportsmen, municipal councillors, community leaders. The first of the family William arrived in Melbourne in 1841 and started a business as a livestock agent. The gold rushes sent him to the central Victoria diggings dealing in cattle. This was a business that boomed in the early 1850s, and he prospered. In 1859 he took over the Quamby run near Woolsthrope from Paul de Castella, the Yarra Valley Swiss vigneron who had brought the leasehold and improvements in 1853 from George You, who had pioneered the run. Quamby was originally 25,000 acres. It was heavily timbered, rough country, much of it swampy, a characteristic of the district. Lindsay used it to fatten cattle which gave large returns with the booming gold diggings towns paying high prices for beef. In 1862 purchases at auction made Quamby a freehold. In the next six years, a further 20,000 acres of Crown land were brought at auction to make the run one of the largest in the south-west district. The great profits from his cattle trading enabled Lindsay to make improvements to the holding, and to Union which was added in 1864. Much of the thick timber was cleared and the worst of the swamps drained. Union was 15,000 acres of freehold land when Kennedy sold it to Lindsay. It was heavily timbered, mostly blackwood, with large belts of wattle and honeysuckle. Much of the heavy native was ringbarked and cleared; much more was swept away by bushfire. It was expensive work, but Lindsay’s bank passbook was heavy with credit, and he did not spare money to make both Quamby and Union heavily developed stock runs. He was as lavish in social living; the bluestone Quamby homestead was one of the most hospitable in the district when William Lindsay was host there; its paddocks carried high-quality thoroughbreds: its stables housed steeplechasers and flat racers which won many races on Warrnambool and other courses; its coach houses were filled with carriages which took his guests to the great racing carnivals of the district. After William Lindsay died in 1897, in his eighty-fifth year, his two sons, William and James, managed Union and Quamby as a joint venture. This partnership ended in 1906 when William took over Union and James kept Quamby. The following year 10,000 acres of Union was subdivided and sold in lots of 100 acres to 700 acres for dairying and general farming. It was well-improved country, much of it alluvial flats. By then many of the paddocks were sheltered with blue gum belts, and they carried good pastures. The three Lindsays, father and two sons, gave many years of service to the Shire, and to many charitable, sporting, social and community organisations in the Warrnambool district. William Lindsay senior, was a Shire councillor for 15 years, and President several times. James Lindsay followed his father as a north riding councillor. He served nineteen years, from 1887 until his death in March 1908. He was President four times. Jimmy Lindsay was one of the most popular men in the south-west of Victoria. He was a fine sportsman: horse breeder, owner and a dashing amateur rider. He lived lavishly and played hard. For many years he guarded a herd of kangaroos, as many as 100 head, at Quamby. Descendants of the Lindsay kangaroos are still in the district. James Lindsay’s wife, Margaret Esther was a daughter of Samuel Shaw Parker, the first engineer of the Shire. Nell Lindsay, a daughter, lives in the Bluestone Quamby homestead. Only a little more than 60 acres of the original run still belongs to the property. William Lindsay junior succeeded his brother as a Shire councillor. He served for 25 years from 1908 until his death in 1934. So, the Lindsays, father and two sons, served as Shite councillors for an unbroken period of sixth-five years. William Lindsay junior had a life-long interest in horse racing, as breeder, owner and enthusiastic amateur steeplechase rider. He was elected a member of the Warrnambool racing club in 1901 and was president of the club for thirty-two years. He raced and rode horses for the love of the sport. He won the Villiers and Heytesbury Hunt Cup in the 1870s on his own horse, Ventura. In the year he died his horse Flavedo won the Warrnambool Grand Annual steeplechase. It was a sensational race. All of the contestants fell or lost their riders. When Flavedo baulked at a jump, its jockey R. Sweetman, remounted and completed the course to win the race. All of the Lindsays were passionately fond of the thoroughbred horse. Nell Lindsay talking to the author in the drawing-room of Quamby homestead - with many memories for her of its lavish years – said of a brother that he was put on a horse when he was two years old and never got off. William Lindsay junior made Union into a fine, high-producing property, breeding cattle and horses. He added to the bluestone house that David Kennedy started, established plantations of pines and gums, and made an attractive garden. 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 meeting room in November 1854 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 fund raising 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 court house 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 historic 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 Historic 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. THE PATTISON COLLECTION This book is also part of the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was then called. When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually, the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a 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 Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Matthews is now considered a rare and valuable scientific and historic work on its own. These 12 volumes were donated in 1934 to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and were included as part of the Pattison 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. The Birds of Australia Vol 1 Author: Gregory M Mathews Publisher: Witherby & Co, 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON Date: 1910-1911 Tan, leather bound illustrated workLabel on spine cover with typed text RA 598.2994 MAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute that reads Presented by W Lindsay Esq, “Union”, Woolsthorpe. Accession Number 15232 Date Received: 3-34 “W. Lindsay” embossed in gold on front cover, bottom right of bookflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the birds of australia, gregory m. matthews, witherby & co., h.f. & g. witherby, w lindsay, william lindsay, pattison collection, the birds of australia vol 1, union station, woolsthrope, quamby station, warrnambool mechanics’ institute and free library

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He along with his brothers, was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. James Bostock was the youngest of Robert and Rachel Bostock with his mother dying in childbirth with his delivery. He loved working with horses and was close to his brothers Augustus and John. He was the third of the Bostock brothers to marry an Aitkin sister in this case Alice in 1875. He was a commission agent and money lender in Warrnambool. He died in 1919. In the 1860/70’s William Melville traded in partnership with William Bayles as merchants in Melbourne and as landholders and leases of land in the Western District Weerangourt with 14192 acres freehold. This lease is for approximately 6000 acres and is for a period of 10 years at 2/9 per acre. This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. The document itself is indicative of its time and provides an insight into the details and terms of such documents at the time. Ten page, large sheeted document, handwritten in black ink on blue paper. It has been folded in four. Date and names of people involved on one section.William Melville Augustus Bostock James Bostock.warrnambool, bostock, augustus bostock, james bostock, william melville, lease 1862,