BHS CollectionBooklet with a grey and white cover. It has a picture of Sir John Quick on the front cover. The Inaugral Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture. Sir John Quick - He Trusted the People. La Trobe University, Bendigo 12 August, 1994. By the Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG. Mentions Sir John Quick's life, his work and his contrubution to the character of the Australian Constitution. Also mentioned is Republicanism and it's pro and cons.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - sir john quick, the inaugral sir john quick bendigo lecture, la trobe university, the hon justice michael kirby, bendigo independent, melbourne age, university of melbourne, australian natives association, federal council of australasia, bendigo federation league, the australian constitution, oliver cromwell, robert garran, annotated constitution of the australian commonwealth, federal arbitration court, catherine harris, bendigo gallery, michele maslunka, john hirst, australian labor party, professor geoffrey blainey, weekend australian 19-20 march 1994, sir harry gibbs, king edward vii, king george v, king george vi, churchill, atlee, queen elizabeth ii, curtin, chifley, evatt, whitlam, mr keating, australian broadcasting corporation, john maynard keynes

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureInaugural Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture 1994 - "Sir John Quick - He Trusted People". Presented by Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, on Friday August 12, 1994 at 8:00 PM; in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University. B&W printed booklet with pale blue light card coversir john quick annual lecture

A three pages paper on the life of Sir John Quick written by Meredith O'Neill, Year 10, Golden Square Secondary College.Meredith O'Neillperson, individual, sir john quick

Photograph of General Sir John Gellibrand and L/- Stan Savige (at far right) at an unknown event that appears to be also attended by a mayor. From Wikipedia: Major General Sir John Gellibrand, KCB, DSO & Bar (5 December 1872 – 3 June 1945) was a senior Australian Army officer in the First World War, Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police from 1920 to 1922, and a member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian Division of Denison for the Nationalist Party from 1925 to 1928. Concerned about the plight of fellow ex-servicemen, whose businesses were often failing, Gellibrand banded together with like-minded individuals to form the Hobart Remembrance Club. This organisation aimed to support ex-servicemen by providing employment and support for their businesses. The Hobart Club inspired the formation of Legacy Australia in Melbourne, which over time became a national movement, expanding its scope to the care of ex-servicemen's widows and their families. Sir John Gellibrand is considered to have influenced Stanley Savige to commence the process to form Legacy in September 1923. Melbourne was the first Legacy club to form.Black and white photo of General Sir John Gellibrand.Handwritten on the reverse: 'General Sir John Gellibrand. SGS at rear' in blue pen. Also '545' in pencil. Stamped with copyright of The Leader in red ink, and 'Property of Melbourne Legacy. Please return this correspondence to Executive Officer' in purple ink.sir john gellibrand, remembrance club

Photocopy of photo of ''Sir John Quick'' (handwritten inscription under photo) - man carrying hat in one hand and folded umbrella in other.person, individual, sir john quick

This plan is of great significance to the local history of Warrnambool, in particular the Breakwater and its impact on Warrnambool's maritime and trade history. The plan shows the existing jetties at the Port of Warrnambool, plus the partially erected Breakwater and proposed works to the Breakwater by both the Borough of Warrnambool Surveyor and Sir John Coode. The plan was signed 28th February 1879 by Sir John Coode. The legend at the bottom left describes the existing works and the proposed works. The Warrnambool Breakwater Sir John Coode was a British harbour engineer. He was brought to Melbourne by the Melbourne Harbour Trust to advise on works to improve the Port of Melbourne. The Victorian Government commissioned him to present a plan to complete the Warrnambool Breakwater. His original plan was too expensive so he prepared a revised plan for a shorter structure. The work was completed in 1890. The construction proved to be too short to protect adequately from the weather and didn't allow enough depth for larger vessels to come into port. The decreasing trade was further affected by siltation in the bay due to the breakwater, and the completion of the railway line. The situation of the harbour became a real problem that, by 1910, required continuous dredging. In 1914 the Breakwater was extended but proved to be a failure because the work began to subside and by 1920 about two thirds of the harbour was silted up. Alterations made in the 1920's increased the silting problem and by the 1940's the harbour was no longer used. More alterations were made in the 1950's and 1960's. The Warrnambool Breakwater is registered as a place of significance on the Victorian Heritage Database. This plan of the proposed works for the existing Warrnambool Breakwater is of great significance to the local history of Warrnambool, in particular the Breakwater and its impact on Warrnambool's maritime and trade history. The Warrnambool Breakwater is registered as a place of significance on the Victorian Heritage Database (VHR H2024). It is historically significant to Victoria as one of the most important maritime engineering projects in Victoria in the late 19th century. The Warrnambool Breakwater is of historical significance as one of the most important maritime engineering projects in Victoria in the late nineteenth century. It is evidence of Victoria's nineteenth century investment in regional port infrastructure and the development of Victorian coastal shipping. It is of significance for its association with the English civil engineer Sir John Coode, the most distinguished harbour engineer of the nineteenth century, who was brought to Victoria to advise on works to improve the Port of Melbourne, but was retained by the Government to advise on improvements to the harbours at Portland, Geelong, Port Fairy, and Lakes Entrance, as well as Warrnambool. His projects for Melbourne, Lakes Entrance and Warrnambool were major engineering projects of the nineteenth century. The breakwater is historically significant as a reminder of Warrnambool's early maritime history as a Western District port, and as one of Victoria's major 'outer ports'. While the Warrnambool Breakwater is a demonstration of the engineering skills of the nineteenth century, it also demonstrates the limitations of knowledge relating to sedimentology at the time and the confidence apparent in a number of nineteenth century plans which assumed that natural forces could be overcome or contained by engineering.Plan of Warrnambool Harbour, Port of Warrnambool, dated 28 Feb 1879. Plan shows existing Breakwater and work proposed by both Warrnambool Borough Surveyor and Sir John Coode. Plan has gold coloured quarter-dowel rods top and bottom and a metal ring at the top. Stamped with title. Signed by Sir John Coode.Stamped "VICTORIAN HARBOURS / WARRNAMBOOL / PLAN / to accompany / SIR JOHN GOODE'S REPORT / DATED 28 FEB 1879" Signature "John Coode"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, sir john coode, borough of warrnambool surveyor, plan of warrnambool, victorian harbours, warrnambool harbour, warrnambool breakwater, port of warrnambool, vhd vhr h2024, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, maritime village, map, chart, plan, lady bay, breakwater, jetty, pier, vhr h2024, proposed works, 1879

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2002 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Footprints on the Sands of Time: Bendigo 's Citizens, the 1909 Bendigonian Annual and Community History". Presented by Professor Jeff Brownrigg, Head of Research and Outreach, Screen Sound Australia, Canberra. The ninth Sir John Quick Bendigo lecture, held on 2 October 2002.sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2007 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Can we avoid the looming Ecological Armageddon?". Presented by Dr David Suzuki live via video-conference from Vancouver, Canada. The 14th Sir John Quick lecture. This is an edited version that David Suzuki, the award-winning scientist environmentalist and broadcaster, presented live via-conference from Vancouver, Canada on 25 October 2007. sir john quick annual lecture

A poem that was written about a journey taken by a local miner's daughter to the Sir John Franklin gold mine from Gooleys Creek.A poem that was written about a journey taken by a local miner's daughter to the Sir John Franklin gold mine from Gooleys Creek.sir john franklin gold mine, gooleys creek, stander's track, goulburn river, wood's point, johnstons hill, chinese miners, black friday

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities, are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to a lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up a home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council his huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower areas of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave from 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However, he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Pattison. Eventually, the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. 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 1860s 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. 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 Voyage of The 'Fox'. The Fate of Sir John Franklin Author: Sir F Leopold M'Clintock Publisher: John Murray, Albemarle Street, London. Publisher to the Admiralty Date: 1881 Further Information: In the Arctic Seas in search of Franklin and his companions. Fifth Edition The label on the spine cover with typed text PAT 919.8 McCL Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the voyage of the 'fox'. the fate of sir john franklin, sir f leopold m'clintock

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 1996 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Towns and Gowns: The Humanities and the Community". Presented by Dr Janet McCalman, on Thursday 28 November 1996 at 6:45 PM; in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University. B&W printed flyer, invitation and program.sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2000 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Referendum - The Australian Way". Presented by The Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen on Wednesday 11 October 2000 in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Copy of lecture with red light card cover, and program.sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2003 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Alois Alzheimer - Gone but not forgotten". Presented by Associate Professor Tony Snell, consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine, Bendigo Health Care Group at 5:45 PM Thursday 2 October 2003 in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Invitation, agenda and lecture notes provided. sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2001 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "150 Years of Gold". Lecture presented by Mr. Peter McCarthy, Managing Director & principal Engineer, Australian Mining Consultants Pty. Ltd. at 6:45 PM Wednesday 26 September 2001 in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Lecture note, invitation and flyer.sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureSir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "The Murray Darling Basin Imitative: A Case Study in Integrated Catchment Management". Presented by Mr. Don Blackmore, Executive Officer Murray Darling Basin Catchment, on 22 November 1995 at 6:45 PM; in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University. B&W printed booklet with green light card cover. includes invitation to the lecturesir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 1997 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "The Myth of the Level Playing Field". Presented by Dr John White, Global Chief Executive, Visy Industries, on Monday 15 September 1997 at 6:45 PM; in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University. B&W printed lecture booklet and program with blue light card cover; and invitation.sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 1999 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Confronting Ageism - Towards a Society for all ages". Presented by Delys Sargeant AM, BSc (Hons) WA, Med (LaT) Chair, National Coordinating Committee (United Nations International Yera of Older Persons) Australian Coalition '99. The lecture commences at 6:45 PM at the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Invitation, program and flyer for the lecture.sir john quick annual lecture

Brass name plaque "Sir John Quick' Name partly embelished with black paint, now faded. Glass covering. Originally hung at his legal office in Pall Mall, Bendigo. Sir John was a lawyer and one of the founding fathers of the Australian Federation. See Australian Dictionary of Biography: adb.anu.edu.au › biography › quick-sir-john-8140bendigo, business, sir john quick

Annual Sir John Quick presentationMatthews Collection - 2005 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "The Strange Case of Cornelia Rau". Presented by Professor Robert Manne 5:45 PM on Thursday 1 September 2005 in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Invitation, agenda and lecture notes provided. Cornelia Rau is the youngest daughter of Edgar and Veronika Rau, a solid middle class German couple from the Balic city of Hamburg. Edgar first bought his family to Sydney in 1967 to establish in Australia a branch of the pharmaceutical company for which he worked. In 19779 the family returned to Germany. After two years Edgar took his wife and younger daughter, Cornelia, by now in her mid-teens, on company business to Indonesia. In 1983 Edgar left the company and settled in Syndney. Cornelia, a warm, vivacious but troubled and restless young woman. Cornelia completed a diploma in leisure and recreation and began work as a Qanta flight attendant in 1993. in 1998 she suffered a complete mental breakdown following a harrowing attack on her character while a member of the Scientology splinter sect known as Kettja. Cornelia never recovered. She was eventually diagnosed with "chronic schizophrenia. She passed from one medical crisis to another. The presentation discusses this case history. sir john quick annual lecture

La Trobe University, Sir John Quick annual lectureMichele Matthews Collection - 2004 Sir John Quick Bendigo Lecture - "Integration, Quick Smart: Disability and Community". presented by Dr Rhonda Galbally at 5:45 PM on Thursday 2 September 2004 in the McKay Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Invitation, agenda and lecture notes provided. All our social systems tend to work on the basis of a "medical model" of disabilement, where problems are an individual matter based on the consequences of disease or trauma. The "social model", in contrast, sees disabilement not as a n attribute of the individual but a collection of conditions, many f them created by the social environment. A social justice model provides the opportunity to bring people with disabilities back from the margins and to integrate their needs on an equal footing. Our approach to disablement must be founded on the principles that: * everyone is equal * everyone is entitled to respect and personal autonomy * everyone is entitled to have his or her basic needs met. sir john quick annual lecture

A5 Display book containing photocopied documents relating to Sir John Quick, including Family Tree, Family Photos, Photos of his birthplace and some letters. Two letters, one from L. E. Fredman, dated 19 March, 1986 on The University of Newcastle paper re copies of a book and one to Mr L. E. Fredman from Felicity Kingerlee, dated 1st April 1986 re the copies of his book. Also contains newspaper cuttings and brochures from his birthplace, Trevessa. Also a buff coloured envelope addressed to Arthur Cyril Eddy, Cornwall, Eng.book, bendigo, sir john quick, sir john quick, mr. l e fredman, f kingerlee, bendigo branch rhsv, times 18/6/1932, arthur cyril eddy

A letter from the Bendigo Art Gallery dated 20/11/1974 re the availability of photos of Sir John Quick.person, individual, sir john quick

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. Sir John Franklin Author: J Henry Skewes Publisher: Benrose & Sons Date: 1889Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 920 FRA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, 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, sir john franklin, j henry skewes