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 November1884 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 art works 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. An Aviary On The Plains Author: Henry G Lamond Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1934Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 823.912 LAM Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, an aviary on the plains, henry g lamond

Collection of various family and personal documents, photographs, and early 1900s greeting cards. Papers of Gwen Reed from Edith Graham of Ware Cres, Ringwood East. (Provided by Nicki Shea, Granddaughter of Stan & Jo Bridgman of Eastwood Cycles) Contents: Hand-written notes – Woodford Family Tree, by Gwen Reed Autograph book with entries "To Gwen" Bookmark - with name "Lorrie B" Christmas card to May with love from George 1906 Christmas card from May to George 1906 Christmas card from Edie to Gwen (Cousin Ede) Christmas card from Dot to Gwen 1925 (from Dot Grundy, dc'd) Christmas card from Ollie S to Gwen 1924 Happy New Year card to Gwen from Grandma (Woodford) Christmas card from Mum & Ethel to Gwen 1926 Christmas card to Gwen from Emily (Gawith, Jeparit East) Christmas card from Olive to Gwen 1919 (Olive Janetski, Jeparit East) Christmas card from Hilda (Obst) to Gwen 1929 Postcard to Miss G Woodford "Bygalorie Park" Tullibigeal PO NSW (To Gwen from Effie - Effie Robson, Jeparit East) Christmas card to Gwennie from C. S. Graham 1915 (School teacher) Christmas card from Mum to May & George Christmas postcard from Grandfather to Gwenny Christmas card to Dear Daddie from Gwen Christmas card from May with love to George Christmas card from Nellie Parker (Nell Rodgers - Albury) to Gwen 1924 Greeting card from Hilda to Gwen 1919 (Hilda Obst Jeparit East) Christmas card from Ethel to Gwen 1927 Christmas card from Anne (MCGrath) to Gwen Christmas card from S. Hoober(?) (School teacher, Bygalorie) to Mr & Mrs Woodford, Gwen & Ollie) 1924 Christmas card from May and George to Mum and Dad 1925 Christmas card to Gwen Syd & Family from May Dad & Kiddies (Stepmother) Christmas card from George to May 1907  Postcard (signed Dulcie) to Mrs G. Reed, 9 Laurence Grove, East Ringwood Vic 3055 postmarked 1993 Envelope (only) addressed to Mrs. G. Reed, 9 Laurence Grove, Ringwood East Vic. 3135 Birth Certificate District of Balmoral, Victoria – Sonia Woodford b.1856 (Issued 1987) Death Certificate District of Stawell, Vic – Archibald Brown d.1914 Marriage Certificate District of Hamilton, Vic – John Brown & Margaret Dale m.1895 Coroner’s Post-Mortem report – Edward John Reed d.1981 Family Data Tree (Family Tree) William Walker/Elizabeth Silk, Hamilton Vic & children b.1842-1862 Newspaper clipping – May & Archibald Brown drowned at North Hamilton, 1887 Pictorial Souvenir – Selected Views of Mount Gambier to Miss L. Boyce, postmarked 1959 Hand-written poems/song lyrics by Gwen Reed (4 pages) Newspaper extract - Weekly Times Magazine Section “At Hamilton”, 1937 Photograph – “My mother standing with Foster parents” Photograph of Gracie (?) Grandma (?) Murray (?) Photograph of costumed performers Photograph of child Photograph of lady at John Mansell dispensary (Chemist at Forest Hill Vic?) Postcard photograph – Gwen & Ethel Woodford Photograph of grave – Victoria May Woodford (died 1957 aged 56 years) Photograph of grave – William Woodford and Sarah Woodford Photograph of un-named male Photograph of baby on chair Photograph – “Myself. Hope you like it May" Photograph (colour) – un-named group on train at Currumbin Qld Photograph – 2 un-named girls Autographs include Arthur Young Rosie Sturgess Joff Ellen Carlu Carter Toni Lamond Dick Curtis Billy Daniels Margaret Whiting Horrie Dargie Duo Moreno Therese Talbert Richard Gray Three Apollos Robert Leeman

This is the 1925 Premiership team photograph for Greensborough Football Club. Photograph is named: Back Row (L-R): A Roy, H Silk, M Monaghan (President), D Monaghan (Vice President), M B George (Treasurer) W H Nicholls (Honorary Secretary), G Barnett (Vice President), Mr Judkins (Timekeeper), C Webber (Vice President), H Collard. Row 2: J Mitchell, D McDowell, S Creese, R Maurer, A Purcell, R McDowell, W Poulter, C Lamond, J Davey, J Stock, T Iredale. Row 3: E Lines, S Poulter, C Oakley, W Godwill, A Lines (Captain), C Godwill (Vice Captain), O Ely, S Clough, W Stock. Front Row: H Collard, W Santon, C Lovell, L Collard, S Judkins.This photo names players in the 1925 team, includes many Greensborough pioneer families.Sepia team photograph, mounted on light brown card.Names of team printed on mount. Inscription on back: "Oct 2011. Donated to the Greensborough Historical Society by Brian Poulter, son of William Arthur Poulter 1905-1974."greensborough football club, diamond valley football league, dvfa premiers 1925

The New Nation Magazine Sept. Oct. Nov. Issue. September 1, 1932. On the front cover a painting "The Murrumbidgee River by J. R. Jackson. Price 1 shilling the magazine has 112 pages, the last two pages are ripped and the back cover is missing. Contents: Frontispiece "morning of the dogger bank" (by T. Benetter)- The British commonwealth of Nations - Switzerland, land of lakes and mountains (by Hilary lofting) - Highways of the Syrian desert (by Francis Birtles) - Seven ages of the Australian aboriginal - The game of the empire, the approaching cricket test matches (by M. A. Noble) - Short story, the last run (by H. H. Cardinal) - "The hidden bird" (by E. M. England) - North Australia trails ( by C. Price Conigrave) - Tales of the turf Fred Archer (by S. A. Marden) - The wide world round - Cape Horn (by J. Newman Barker) - "The home in the clearing" (by Sydney long) - Whitsunday passage (by Henry G. Lamond) - Old bridges (by J. L. Ranken) - The city of the longest drink (by A. C. Cummins) - The life of the cuckoo (by M. S.) - Radio - The world of music (by A. L. Kelly) - The world of women (by E. G. Manby Suttor) - Shopping from an easy chair - The Australian wool trade - Our verse farm - My wool clip (by H. W. Wright) - Windjammer days (by Gerald M. Moody) - Quarterly review of the stock and meat industry (by J. B. Cramsie) - New Zealand letter - At ye booksellers today - A number of things - The modern home - Portland cement - The good housewife (by E. G. Manby Suttor) - Cousin Shirley.book, magazine, the new nation

Framed photo of Debutantes and Partners at 7th Mayoral Ball, City of Nunawading, given by Mayor and Mayoress, Cr. and Mrs F.E. Paice 18/6/1952. On Display: Local History Room, Nunawading Branch Library. On display in Library since 1991.gedye, laurence, ham, margaret, pursell, janet, kelly, mrs. h. p., paice, frank e., paice, mrs f.e., charlesworth, albert roy, lowe, jean, dowling, june, little, les, priestly, bill, pearce, gwen, manning, maureen, crawley, barbara, lamond, jean, inwood, cynthia, crawley, lenore, mason, ron, deacon, kevin, barnes, frank, james, barry, toivonen, george, manning, bill, mckelvie, alf., debutante ball, city of nunawading, debutantes