Black cloth covered book with leather spine. Colour illustrationsballarat technical art school, ballarat technical art school library, bank of australasia, mount kosciusko, siry henry parkes, pyrmont bridge, maori, ancient egypt, julian ashton, st andrew'e cathedral sydney, edmond thomas blacket, sydney university, comisariat stores circular quay, the rocks, w. lister-lister, sydney domestic architecture, james barnet, john horbury hunt, sidney long, maori art, wall decoratoni, paperhangings, australian stained glass, art and architecture, stamped metalwork, w.c. piguenit, australian architecture, rose bay convent chapel, australian posters, pottery, cyril blacket, bookbinding, new south wales state library architecture, oxford st sydney'tom roberts, repousse, sydney harbour bridge, john longstaff, women painters, the great pyramid of egypt, skyscraper comes to new south wales, melbourne hospital plans, governor bligh, electric illumination

WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. Australias Alps Author: Elyne Mitchell Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1946 Further Information: Mount Kosciusko and surrounding districts 1st Published: 1942The label on spine cover has typed text R.A.919.94 MIT Front loose endpaper has a stamp with the number 000278 from Warrnambool Public Libraryflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, 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, australias alps, elyne mitchell

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. In 1981 he graduated in sport psychology and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village. Patricia “Patsy” Sydney Russell Finlayson was born on 17 March 1915. In 1935 she was selected for the NSW Ski team and competed at the Australian Championships. Patsy was runner-up in the individual slalom and giant slalom and became the Australian combined champion. In that year she also won the Summit Ski Race at Mount Kosciusko with a time of 9 hours and 37 minutes, breaking the women's record by 1½ hours. In 1936 Finlayson earned national selection for the first Inter Dominion Championship between Australia & New Zealand. She was then selected to represent Australia at the 1939 Nordic World Ski Championship at Zakopane, Poland but was injured during training. She returned to Australia in August 1938 and had to compete in the men's event (placing 4th) as the women's event had been cancelled. In 1969 Finlayson won all her events in the Australian Ski Championships. In 1941, Finlayson was appointed Australia's first female ski instructor. However, she had to resign from the Australian Women's Ski Club as she was no longer considered to be an amateur. This made her ineligible for the Australian or NSW ski championships and the Olympic Games. In 1949, the International Ski Federation (FIS) changed the rules governing amateur standing and Finlayson was allowed to compete at the NSW and Australian Championships. She went on to win all events in both 1949 and 1950. She retired from competitive skiing in October 1950.This item is significant because it features a pioneer of women's skiing in Australia.A black and white image of Patsy Finlayson with her skis and poles. george shirling, red onion, patsy finlayson, women's skiing pioneer

It is the policy of the Government that most of the State's alpine area will be proclaimed as an Alpine National Park, which would complement the Kosciusko National Park in N.S.W.. This is yet to be achieved (1987), however there is a need for sound, efficient and coordinated management based on the area's natural features, values and uses. Planning is proceeding on this basis.Victoria's alpine area is one of the State's most outstanding and spectacular natural areas. It is noted for its diverse plant and animal life, scenery, recreation opportunities and as a water catchment. This country is at the upper end of the Kiewa Valley and the planning for it is of interest to the Kiewa Valley inhabitants.White bound book with green print for title at the top, black & white picture and black print at the bottom for the name of the government authority publishing the book.143 pages with fold out map after page 7. The map is coloured green to indicate the planning area.alpine area, bogong national park, victorian department of conservation forests & lands

Frank Hurley (1885-1962) was an Australian photographer and adventurer. He participated in trips to Antartica and was an official photographer with the Australian forces during both world wars. This book was first published in 1955.Photographs include the Hume Reservoir, Mt Buffalo and the Alpine High Country of Mt Kosciusko. (pages 140-144) All are associated with the type of country at each end of the Kiewa River. The Kiewa River flows into the Murray River just below the Hume Dam and Mt Buffalo and Mt Kosciusko are part of the Alpine High country near the Bogong High Plains. Clare Roper lived on a farm in the Kiewa Valley.Blue hard cover, bound book with the title in gold at the top. 208 pages. Mostly Black & white photos but some coloured.Inside back of first page - written 'Clare Roper'frank hurley photographer, australian photography, clare roper

In the early 1950s snow skiing was becoming more popular as indicated by these two books of 94 pages covering the snow fields in N.S.W., Victoria and Tawmania. The first publication was limited to the Kosciusko Alpine Club in 1928. The 1952 edition being the 25th issue. Due to the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme many SECV employees had access to the Bogong High Plains including Falls Creek. These books are of historical value as indicated by the advertisements for the resorts, the equipment in the snow eg. tows, skis and clothes being used at the time, the results of ski races, etc. The accommodation has also developed and attracted a variety of people. The articles include disasters, people involved in the sport and overseas updates. In the 1952 book relevant pages for the Bogong High Plains and Falls Creek are pages 36, 38, and 68-69. In the 1953 book relevant pages are 62 and 71-72 and for aborigines 66 - 69Both books have a greyish photo as a cover with the title and year. Each book has 94 pages of soft paper. The books consist of advertisements, a Contents page and articles. Photos and diagrams are in black and white. On the front covers is written: "K. Mills"bogong high plains, skiing, falls creek, aborigines

Format using photographs and a brief description of each plant.Maps, colour photographsalps, victorian national parks association, bogong unit, alpine national park, mount buffalo national park, wonnangatta-moroka unit, kosciusko national park

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.‘Waterfall scene near the Buchan River’ : Views of Victoria (General Series), No.39 : Albumen silver photograph | Photo on card with Title and Description on reverse | Mounted 24 x 30 cm; Photo 12 x 17 cm.On Reverse: ‘The Buchan River is a tributary of the great Snowy River, which extends itself from Port Ricardo, on the Gipps Land coast, to considerably beyond Mt. Kosciusko, in New South Wales. It is comparatively but a stream, but, like most of the smaller rivers in Victoria, it contains some beautiful scenery, peculiar to itself. Our present illustration is characteristic of its scenery, and is taken from a creek close to the River.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), buchan river, landscape photography - victoria