The people are L to R: Kathy McMeel (secretary), Annie Blanch (Boat Captain), Joanne Bone (president), James Tait (director of Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations, Susan Finnigan (Grants Officer) and Clive Wooster (treasurer). • In February 2017 the club filled the base of the boathouse and poured a new concrete floor. • They had an opening to thank the donors, especially the Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations and to celebrate with the community and rowers, past and present • Since 1996 rowers had to wade in foul, ankle to thigh high water to access the boat shed- this was for 3-5 months of every year- our facilities are now accessible and Warrnambool has a sporting venue for rowers that is safe and one the public can be proud of. • The Club thanked Barry Wilson for generously donating the plans and acknowledged the ‘term deposit’ raised over the last 10 years, by past and present members, which allowed the Club to contribute the additional funding required. • In particular The Foundations assistance made the project possible. The two philanthropic Foundations are a treasure for the community as they can step in and fill the gap where other funding sources cannot. In our case they were the major donors and we could not have contemplated this project without their assistance. We are truly grateful for the assistance of The Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation. • Mr James Tait, a director of both Foundations to unveiled the commemorative plaque. Color photograph taken at the opening of the Redeveloped City of Warrnambool Rowing Club. Includes a brass plaque. The people are L to R: Kathy McMeel (secretary), Annie Blanch (Boat Captain), Joanne Bone (president), James Tait (director of Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations, Susan Finnigan (Grants Officer) and Clive Wooster (treasurer).james tait, warrnambool, city of warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool rowing club, boathouse, boathouse redevelopment, gwen and edna jones foundation, ray and joyce uebergang foundation

This item is from 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. 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 lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. 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 Ralph 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. 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 area 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 during 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 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. The Roman History Vol 1 From the Foundation of the City of Rome to the Destruction of the Western Empire Author: Dr. Goldsmith Publisher: Baker and Leigh Date: 1775Label on spine cover with typed text RH 937 GOL Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum Front loose endpaper has hand writting that reads " Received from Mr. James Tait. June 1898"warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, 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, great ocean road, the roman history vol 1, dr. goldsmith

This item is from 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. 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 lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. 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 Ralph 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. 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 area 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 during 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 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. The Roman History Vol 2 From the Foundation of the City of Rome to the Destruction of the Western Empire Author: Dr. Goldsmith Publisher: Baker and Leigh Date: 1775Label on spine cover with typed text RH 937 GOL Under the above label the number 937 is written in white ink Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum Front loose endpaper has hand writting that reads "Received from Mr. James Tait. June 22nd 1898"warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, 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, great ocean road, the roman history vol 2, dr. goldsmith

This book is of general as well as local interest as it gives short biographies of prominent 19th century Australian men. Included in the book are people of local importance to Warrnambool and district – Dr Fleetwood, Dr Singleton, Rev. George Tait, James Stewart Butters, Stephen Henty and Dr Thomas Scott. This book is important because it has interesting and informative biographies of prominent Australian men of the 19th century but it is of greater importance to Warrnambool’s historians because of its biographies of men who were influential in Warrnambool’s history. It is also of interest that the book has the signature of Henri Worland, the Town Clerk of Warrnambool from 1918 to 1949. Worland was also a great Warrnambool historian, preserving items of historical importance, writing on local history and talking about our history for a number of years in a series of broadcasts on Warrnambool’s 3YB. It is due to him that we have ‘Australian Representative Men’ in our collection today. This is a hard cover book with a black cover and gold-coloured lettering on the spine. The pages are unnumbered. The book contains 107 biographies of well-known 19th century men in Australia, together with their portraits fronted by a piece of tissue paper. The book also has articles on the Federal Council and the Soudan Expedition. The first couple of pages are missing. The cover is a little stained and some of the pages have blotches on them. There are several stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society.‘H.J.Worland’ history of warrnambool, dr fleetwood, dr singleton, dr thomas scott, stephen henty, james stewart butters, rev. george tait

Pupils who listed World War 1. Wooden Board with 80 small glass panels holding photographs. Four wooden panels listing 157 names of the pupils in gold lettering with red cross against the names of the soldiers who were killed. Top Creswick School Roll of Honour Botton: A tribute to the Students of this school who served the Empire. The Great War 1914-1919. Photos in LHS 1. JS Anderson 2 A Anderson 3 R Anderson 4 A Beckerleg, 5 R Bell 6 A Bernado 7 J Bernado 8 EG Booth 9 M Boradale 10 R Boradale 11 R Boradale 12 WJ Bowley 13 FA Canning 14 HGN Cassell 15 E Clarkson 16 A Clausen 17 V Crougey 18 HG Dean 19 W K Dean 20 CV Gardner 21 WG Gardner 22 RJ Gardner 23 EH Goats 24 R Gray 25 B Gray 26 AB Grose 27 CT Grose 28 BA Grose 29 JB Grose 30 W Hadler 31 W Hartley 32 GT Hewitson 33 CC Hewitson 34 W Howie 35 R Howie 36 C Howie 37 WH James 38 P Kennedy 39 WJ Lambert 40 A Lambert 41 F Lambert RHS 42 H Lambert 43 WH McFarlane 44 VH Malone 45 PJA Malone 46 J Maughan 47 J Mendham 48 AE Merriman* 49 AC New 50 T New 51 W Parkes* 52 R Pasco 53 FH Pavarno 54 EP Pavarno 55 AB Peters* 56 G Petrie* 57 T Porter 58 G Porter 59 F Porter 60 H Praetz 61 R Praetz 62 S Reeves 63 W Sherriff 64 P Short 65 J Skewes 66 N Slade 67 JC Smith 68 J Still 69 GW Tait 70 DG Toohey 71 A Tonkins 72 SH Townshend 73 E Townshend* 74 HE Townshend 75 H H Townshend 76 S Treloar 77 RJ Ward 78 WE Westcott* 79 FC Whitfield* 80 AC Wisby* Writen Names T Anderson, T Arnold, S,D,G & W Barclay, G Beaucort, B Bentwich, J Berry, E&C Blake, S&A Bush, AF, WJW & R, Bowley, J,F & HB Brady, Alex Bowley, L Brotherton, JC Caddy*, J Canning, SF Carlyon, R Chaulkey, F Clausen, F*,G & J Clifton,V Creati,B Crosbie, H* & V Clover, A Chandler, J&G Davidson, S Dean, W Denny, W Digby, C Douglas D,H* & J Drummond, G Donald*, JP Dooley, W*&A Edmends, Percy Ellis, P,SW & T Ellis, A Egglestone, W & R Fricker, A,C & Clive Falla, G Fricker, A* & W Gibson, H Gardner, EJA Gray, WEC, N & H Grose, H Green, M Glass, FP Grady, W Hadler, W Hartley, N&T Hammon, H & J Harris, W & L Hartland, R Hawkey, PA Hertford, T Hogo, R Forrestor, A,F & N James, J Jebb, Alex,A & FT Johnson, WE Jordan, P Jory, E Jane, HC,RJ & JW Kelly, A King, S knight* M Lang(Sister), Clint'n Lavas, Mat Lang, C&TJ Liddicoat, RG* & ED Lindsay, W Little, L Lucas(navy), W & C Mann, WHS Merriman, J Mitchell, S Northcott, S New, W Nicholas, V Northcott, L Orange, JT & HC Packham, E Pearce, E Pilling, J Praetz, R Williams, AM & F* Robertson, A Romeo, J Rowe, H Russell, H & C Woods, C Sandford, G Sherriff, W & F Smith, J & R Snell, A & J* Spence, W Stephenson, J A Still, W,WL & AJ Surredge, J Shaw, Jas Wisby, A Treeby, F Tregonning, FL & W Treloar, A Tremearne, R Tilt, H Vague, A Wade, H Wall, BT,IW & J Ward, J,M & O Whatman, D Wilson, H & A Wood, DG Wormald, A Wright, L Watt, A Whitfield*.

Tait collection: item 27 of 62 This document contains details on the will and probate of Sarah Fry who died in Warrnambool in March 1905 at the age of 47. She was the daughter of Edmund and Jane Lord and came to Australia with her parents and some of her siblings aboard the Electric in 1869. In 1888 she married Francis Joseph Fry, a Warrnambool plasterer. Sarah Fry left real estate to the value of £450 and personal estate to the value of £202. The beneficiaries of her will were her husband, Francis and her three children, Sarah, James and Doris. The lawyer Ernest Chambers had offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had this document in his possession and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of interest as it contains information on the will and probate of Sarah Fry, a resident of Warnambool in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It will be useful for researchers.This is a 1906 cream-coloured parchment sheet folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. Three of the pages are ruled with black ink. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria attached with a blue ribbon and a red stamp of the Master-in-Equity of the Supreme Court. The document includes the will and probate details of Sarah Fry, a married woman from Warrnambool. All the pages are somewhat stained but one page is very grubby. ernest chambers, sarah fry, warrnambool

Tait collection: item 29 of 62 This document contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The document indicates that he died intestate in August 1896 at the age of 57 but details of a will are included in the document. The fact that this document was drawn up 14 years after his death indicates that there was a problem with the will. James Jones left real estate to the value of £80 and personal estate to the value of £10. The sole beneficiary was his widow, Mary Ann Jones. No other information has been found on James Jones. No Warrnambool lawyer is mentioned in this document but it was located at the former legal premises in Kepler Street of Mackay Taylor and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014. It is presumed that it had been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the same building since 1910. This document is of interest because it contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of a Warrnambool resident, James Jones. It will be useful for research.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper (1910) folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. The first page has black printed material in script with the information filled in in black ink. It contains the information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The paper is ruled on one side with black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon. One page is very stained. james jones, warrnambool

Tait collection: item 48 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of William James Osborne, a Tallangatta farmer who died in 1896 at the age of 59. His death place is given as Tower Hill. A William Osborne is listed as a Wangoom farmer in 1856, a farmer at ‘Thompson’s Old Farm’ in Allansford in 1866 and a farmer at Winton Farm on the Allansford Road near Shipley in 1869 but these references may be to William Osborne’s father as there is mention of a William Osborne, Junior at that time. William James Osborne left real estate to the value of £560 and personal estate to the value of £81 to his wife, Hannah. The lawyer who drew up this document was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He was in possession of this document and it has passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 (former premises of the law firm of Mackay Taylor). This document is of interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of William James Osborne, a farmer in the Allansford area in the 19th century. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two to make four pages. Three of the pages have handwritten material in brown ink and the pages are not ruled. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat stained but legible. The document gives details of the Will and Probate of William Osborne of Tallangatta in the County of Heytesbury. He died in 1896. ernest chambers, warrnambool lawyer, william james osborne, history

Eight of these letter books contain letters written by the Warrnambool lawyer George Mackay. They are mostly letters written to contacts while he was living in Scotland and letters sent from Warrnambool to Scotland to his daughter, Margueretta (Meta) who was studying medicine. Scottish-born George Sutherland Mackay (1850-1926) opened a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 bought the business of the late James Fletcher, with the business known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s John Taylor became a partner and the firm of Mackay, Taylor & Co. (later Mackay Taylor) continued until 1999 when it merged with Taits Solicitors to form Tait Taylor (now Taits Legal). George Mackay was a Warrnambool Councillor and the first Mayor to hold office for four successive years. He was instrumental in getting the Warrnambool High School established and was the Chairman of the first School Council. Two of these letter books contain letters written by Ernest Powling. One letter book contains letters written by James Mack, a Warrnambool accountant These letter books are of considerable importance as they contain letters relating to legal matters in Warrnambool and district from the late 19th century to the mid 1940s. The letters also give an insight into the private life of a prominent Warrnambool lawyer, George Sutherland Mackay..1 This letter book has a dark blue cover, brown leather binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten letters. The spine is damaged. .2 This letter book has a dark red cover with red binding, an alphabetical index with tabs, a handwritten label on the front cover, information on the ledger maker and the handwriting of the letter writer inside the front cover. The spine is slightly damaged. .3 This letter book has a dark red mottled cover with white binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and a handwritten label on the front cover. .4 This letter book has a dark red cover with white paper binding and a handwritten label on the cover. .5 This letter book has a dark blue cover, red binding, and alphabetical index with tabs. The spine is slightly damaged. A loose receipt is inside the front cover. .6 This letter book has a mottled blue and pink cover, black binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten personal letters. .7 This letter book has a dark green cover, brown binding, an alphabetical index with coloured tabs and handwritten private letters. .8 This letter book has a mottled cover with black binding and an alphabetical index with tabs. Many of the letter copies are upside down. .9 This letter book has a dark green cover with red binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten personal letters. .10 This letter book has a dark green cover with buff-coloured leather binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and copies of typed letters. The leather is torn on the front cover. .11 This letter book has a green cover, a brown leather spine and a paper label pasted on the cover. This book has the spine detached and is badly waterstained .2 G Sutherland Mackay 1874 Private Letter Book james mack, warrnambool, ernest powling, port fairy, george mackay, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This ledger is Volume One of a series of Copy Title Books that contain certificates of land titles from the Warrnambool district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It came from the former premises of the Warrnambool legal firm, Mackay Taylor. This firm originated in the 1890s when George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. In 1893 he bought the legal business of James Fletcher, following the death of the latter and the practice became known as Fletcher and Mackay. In 1926 John Taylor became a partner with George Mackay (who died that year) and Mackay, Taylor and Co continued on until 1999 when the firm merged with Tait Solicitors and became Tait Taylor. In 2010 it was renamed Taits Legal. This ledger is of great importance as it contains early certificates of titles of land and property in the Warrnambool district. The information contained therein will be of significant importance to researchers of local history.This is a hard cover book of 200 pages with a mottled green cover and black binding. The index is typed and the contents include certificates of land and property titles and some sketch maps.warrnambool land and property, mackay taylor, history of warrnambool

This ledger contains information on deeds, wills and properties from many Warrnambool and district residents in the 1940s and 1950s. The ledger comes from the law firm of Mackay and Taylor of Warrnambool. Scottish-born George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 bought the next-door practice of the late James Fletcher and the firm was then known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s George Mackay took John Taylor into partnership and the business then became Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor). In 1999 Taits Solicitors and Mackay Taylor merged to form Tait Taylor and today it is known as Taits Legal. This ledger is of some importance as it contains so much information on Warrnambool and district families and their property ownership in the 1940s and 50s and so will be of great use to researchers. This is a ledger with a grey cover with red binding on the spine. The cover has a white label pasted on, with printed and handwritten material. The pages have printed red lines but these have not been used. Instead the pages contain letters, typed sheets and receipts pasted in. Some of the letters and receipts are handwritten and some are typed. Day Book Mackay & Taylor Deed Receipts 1946-19…mackay & taylor, history of warrnambool, ledger – deed receipts

This ledger contains material from the legal firm of Mackay and Taylor for the period 1931 to 1946. The material includes receipts, letters and typed summaries concerning the wills and property of Warrnambool and district residents at that time. Scottish-born George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 he bought the next-door practice of the late James Fletcher, with the business then known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s John Taylor became a partner with Mackay under the name of Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor). In 1999 Taits Solicitors of Warrnambool merged with Mackay Taylor to form Tait Taylor. Today this business is known as Taits Legal. This ledger is of some importance as it contains much historical information (wills, deeds, property ownership etc) on Warrnambool and district residents in the 1930s and 40s. It will be very useful to researchers.This is a ledger with a black cardboard cover and red binding on the spine. The binding has broken and the covers and sections of the pages are detached. The cover is much stained and rubbed. The pages have been printed with red and blue lines but these have not been used. Instead a variety of letters, receipts and typed material have been pasted onto the pages. Some of the letters and receipts have been handwritten and some have been typed.Receipt Book

This is an 1886 certificate admitting George Mackay to practise as an attorney, solicitor and proctor in the courts of the colony of Victoria. George Sutherland Mackay (1850-1926) was born in Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow. He came to Australia in 1884. In 1891 he came to Warrnambool and established a legal practice in Kepler Street. In 1893 he bought the practice of the late James Fletcher and the firm was then known as Fletcher and Mackay. It changed to Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor) when J.D. Taylor became his partner in the 1920s. In 1999 Tait Solicitors and Mackay Taylor amalgamated to form Tait Taylor and in 2010 the firm’s name became Tait Legal. This certificate is of considerable importance as a significant memento of George Mackay, a prominent lawyer in Warrnambool from the 1890s to 1926.This is a paper certificate pasted on board and set into a brown cardboard frame. The certificate has brown or gold handwriting with some calligraphy, three or four stamps (mostly obliterated), a green duty stamp and the remains of a signature. The frame is tattered at the edges and stained at the back.george sutherland mackay, warrnambool lawyer, j.d. taylor, tait solicitors and mackay taylor, history of warrnambool

This document concerns the estate of Alexander Florida Cameron, a seedsman from Melbourne in the firm of Grant and Cameron of 41 Bourke Street West, Melbourne. He died intestate in 1887 and left real estate to the value of £263 and personal estate to the value of £4744. This estate was to be administered by his son, Richard Ross Cameron. Tait collection: item 8 of 62This document has no apparent local significance and is of interest only as an example of the Letters of Administration issued in the 1880s. This is a piece of cream parchment with ruled black lines and the lower edge folded back with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached to the document by a black ribbon. The document contains handwritten material in black ink and a blue stamp from the Revenue and Pay Office and a red stamp from the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat stained but is otherwise in good condition.‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction in the Estate of Alexander Florida Cameron, late of Bourke Street West in the City of Melbourne, Seed Merchant, deceased intestate, Letters of Administration, I certify that the sum of £40-7-0 duty of the within Letters of Administration has been paid, Drake and Gair, 3 St. James Buildings, 59 William Street Melbourne, Proctors. W. Ravent Stephen, Office under Section 6, Act 388, 10/6/87’alexander florida cameron, drake & gair, solicitors, warrnambool

This Kodak camera was a popular model early in the 20th century. This one belonged to Elisabeth Tait (nee Pearson). Elisabeth Pearson was born in 1911 to James and Amy Pearson. Her father had established, in 1910, the clothing firm of Pelaco in association with James Law. The business mostly produced men’s shirts. Elisabeth Pearson married a Warrnambool lawyer and was known for her community work, especially in connection with the Warrnambool Ladies’ Benevolent Society. She joined this society in March 1969 and became president in November, 1961. She retained this position until the society was disbanded in 1993. This camera is retained as a memento of Elisabeth Tait, a well-known Warrnambool person in the 20th century. .1 This is a brown leather camera case with a metal catch and a leather shoulder strap. The case has stitching along the sides. The initials of the owner are stamped in gold lettering on the front of the cover. The leather is somewhat rubbed. 2. This is a Kodak camera with a black covering and a telescopic mechanism inside. It has gold lettering on the back. ‘E.M.P.’ (twice) ‘Use film no. A 116’ ‘No 2A Folding Autographic Brownie’ ‘Kodak’ ‘Tait 246 Lava Street Warrnambool’ 20th century photography, elisabeth tait, warrnambool

Tait collection: item 18 of 62 This document contains information on the Probate papers of James Evenett, a fellmonger from Warrnambool. He died in September 1898. James Evenett had a fellmongery on the Merri River, commencing business about 1869 and continuing in to the 1890s. In the 1880s his woolscouring works employed four people and this increased to ten at the busy times. He purchased sheepskins from the neighbouring farms and sent the wool to England with the skins being used in the Merri River tannery works. He left real estate property to the value of £686 and personal estate to the value of £200. The three executors were William Ponting, James Harman and his wife Mary Evenett. James EvenettThis is an 1898 document containing the Probate papers of James Evenett. The paper has been folded in two with handwritten material on four sides. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The writing in brown ink is legible but the paper is somewhat stained in places. probate papers, james evenett