These two ledgers contain details on mortgages in the Warrnambool district but the business person or persons associated with the ledgers is unknown. One ledger dates from 1913 to 1925 and the other from 1910 to 1926. The financial dealings of the mortgagees and mortgage brokers are listed in detail and many of the names in the ledgers are well-known historically and include Crisp, Coulstock, Coleston, Flett and Goldstraw. There are also some unfamiliar names worthy of research. These ledgers are of historical interest and have potential value to researchers of local history.These two ledgers have brown covers made of wood with a cloth covering. The pages are attached to the cover by metal inserts with screws and have alphabetical tabs. The pages have red and blue printed lines and handwritten entries in ink. mortgage ledgers warrnambool early 20th century, warrnambool history

This ledger contains an Index to Drafts for Mortgages, Conveyances and Deed of Covenants etc (1896 to 1913) which was in use by the Warrnambool solicitor, Ernest Chambers. He had offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy in the late 19th century and early 20th century and Thomas Goodall was his manager in Warrnambool until 1899 when Chambers took up permanent residence in Warrnambool. The ledger was found in the old Mackay Taylor offices in Kepler Street and presumably came into the possession of this law firm at a later stage when Ernest Chambers was no longer operating in Warrnambool. The firm of Mackay Taylor was originally established in 1898 from the amalgamation of the law firms of George Mackay and James Fletcher. In the 1920s the firm became Mackay and Taylor when J. Taylor joined as a partner and this business was prominent in Warrnambool until the 1990s.This ledger has some significance as it contains the names of many Warrnambool and district residents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and gives some indication of what type of legal transaction they were involved with. It therefore has some historical and social connotations useful for researchersThis is a ledger with a black cover and red bindings on the spine and corner reinforcements. There are 273 pages with printed red lines for accounting purposes. The entries are written in black ink. The inside front and back covers of card paper material have a red and blue mottled pattern. Front cover: ‘Index to Drafts, E.T.H.Chambers’ Spine: ‘8-4-96 to 14-9-15 Index to Drafts’ ernest chambers, solicitor mackay taylor legal firm