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. Oliver Twist Author: Charles Dickens Publisher: Collins Clear Type PressLabel on spine cover with typed text PAT FIC DIC Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Children's Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service 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, oliver twist, charles dickens

Ill p.330.fictionScathing in its indictment of a cruel society and pervaded by a sense of threat and mystery, this novel is peopled with some of the most famous characters in literature. Elements of the Gothic Romance jostle with those of the Newgate novel and popular melodrama forging a style entirely Dickens'. england - fiction, charles dickens 1812-1870

"Oliver" is a musical in two acts, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart based on the novel 'Oliveer Twist' by Charles Dickens.Bendigo Operatic Socety Souvenir Music Programme for "Oliver" - a musical in 2 acts for the Society's twentieth year of production, opening for 8 nights commencing Wednesday 13th June, 1973 in the Capital Theatre - A5 booklet with 16 pages - booklet consisting of lists of individuals participating and organizing the concert, advertisements, acknowledgments, synopsis of story and scenes. Included also are cast, musical numbers and Orchestra.programme, concert, bendigo operatic society, capital theatre

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping.Brown plastic rectangular hand frame with holes evenly spaced on either long side. Hinged Braille metal guide with space for 2 rows of Braille, each 35 cells long. braille equipment, rnib

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. In this example, the Rules of Membership for the Victorian Braille Writers were attached to the board.1 wooden back board with metal hand frame and stylus156 carved into wooden framebraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! Various metal hand frames accompanied by a metal stylus with wooden handle. Some include a wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable as a firm base was needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. Transcribing maths was an extremely complex task and a metal grid was utilised to reproduce graphs and diagrams.1 wooden hand frame with metal grid and metal and wooden stylus, 1 metal maths grid with metal pegs in metal container inside a brown suitcase and numerous sheets of Braille paperT.C. Coughlin 5 doz sausage rolls Wilmington Southend is written inside the lid of the suitcasebraille equipment, james murphy

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. Sometimes the board was labelled with organisational labels. In this example, the Rules of Membership for the Victorian Association of Braille Writers was attached, which included the costs of being a transcribing member and the length of the loan period. It is signed by Millicent Ritchie (Hon. Secretary) and Minnie H Crabb (Asst Sec and Librarian) at the base of the sheet.Brown rectangular wooden board with hinged paper clamp and metal hinged guideFree Lending Library for the Blind label is attached to boardbraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. This donation includes the signature of Miss Bertha Yoxon, who was a student that transcribed braille around the 1920's for the Victorian Association of Braille Writers, and the owner of this board and textbook. Some originals of her work and a translated letter from her friend James Grubb accompany the frame. 1 wooden board and Braille paper, with 1 Braille text bookbraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

Olive green oval shape canteen with plastic twist top with obvious wear & tear including scratches and dents.canteen, olive, green

This item has not yet been identfied as to use, origin, etc. Any information to assist identification would be appreciated.Olive green cylindrical fluted pressed metal tube. Sealled one end, with twist top lid attached by short chain at other end. Evidence of removed carrying sling mounting brackets (??) both ends.

Pink, blue, cream and olive coloured material on sunshade. Dark crown shaft with lighter coloured handle. Wodden handle has twisted leater strand with fringed tassel for hanging. Material and metal closing catch. Paragon, S. Fox and Co. Limited on inside metal strutS. Fox and Co. Limitedcostume accessories, clothing accessories, umbrella

The (logging) truck carries a representation of John Glover’s painted landscapes, which Cox has painted on a solid block of wood. John Glover is one of Australia’s most celebrated colonial landscape painters. Born in England, he was a highly successful water-colourist and painter of landscapes in the tradition of French artist Claude Lorrain. Arriving in Australia in 1831, Glover adapted his picturesque style and luminous technique to his new surrounds, creating naturalistic and atmospheric paintings of Australian nature, settler life, and Aboriginal culture. Working out of doors, Glover developed an understanding of the unfamiliar Australian landscape, especially the twisting forms of native eucalyptus trees. His direct experience of nature, as both pioneer settler and painter, resulted in a new approach using a subtle palette of olive greens, ochres, misty greys and intense blues, and layered glazes of mauve, grey and gold, to portray Australian light and atmosphere. Dale Cox continues the ongoing preoccupation and tradition of landscape painting in the Nillumbik area and our impact on the environment in a contemporary way. The truck creates a playful nexus between painting (representational landscape) and sculpture, purposely bluring boundaries across these traditionally distinct disciplines. ‘Ghost’ seeks to convey the idea that when we remove something significant from a location, like the landscape itself, the remaining ‘place’ changes to become a new ‘place’. This may seem self-evident until we think more deeply about location and landscape. The white truck is a ghost, an ethereal, transient being that spirits away an entire place, forever removed from itself, and forever changed. Logging wild trees can never be like harvesting a ‘crop’. Logging removes a landscape, and changes a place forever. The ‘packaging’ of this painted landscape highlights the anomaly between commodity and our environment. Dale Cox was a local artist and this work was highly commended at the 2012 Nillumbik Prize. White plastic toy (logging) truck with a landscape painting on a wooden block. The landscape painting is reminiscent of paintings by colonial artist John Glover. N/Alandscape, truck, sculpture, environment, john glover, colonial, painting, ghost, nillumbik prize

Olive Drab sealed tin with key to open stuck on top. To open the key slot is slid onto to a tab on the top left side. The key is then twisted around in a clockwise direction until the top is able to be peeled back, to access the contents (unknown) AMF (Australian Military Forces) EMERGENCY RATIONS NOT TO BE OPENED EXCEPT IN EMERGENCYtinned emergency ration

The handmade basket has a variety of pieces of War Memorabilia as listed in the description.A large lidded firm natural, green and tan raffia woven basket with a looped handle on the lid which is attached to the base by rusted twisted pieces of wire. It closes with a brown strip of leather onto a metal clip at the side. Inside are pieces of War Memorabilia - an instruction card for Knitters Get Busy!, one tortoiseshell knitting needle, a pair of large olive green woollen mittens, two strips of paper with instructions and illustrations for sewing Red Cross Pyjamas for the Soldiers and a small grey folded card - 'The Grey Sock' which has directions for knitting good socks with finer wool and needles. This is incomplete.'Knitters Get Busy! War Chest Wants Socks Appeal for 150,000 Pairs'. There is an acrostic poem for the word KNITTERS, describing the word. 'The Grey Sock' - instructions for knitting fine and coarse wool. Suitable pyjama pattern with instructions.war, containers, knitting, sewing, baskets

Representative of military issued accoutrements, possibly Australian Army, late 20th Century. Army water canteen, possibly Australian Army issued, with olive green fabric insulating cover featuring flaps with stud fasteners, black twist top lid attached to aluminium body fixed by aluminium chain that is attached both to base and top of lid. Back of fabric cover has a metal prong threaded through a strong fabric loop which has been sewn on for attaching to a belt. Tag on back sewed on which reads 'Made in Japan'. flask, canteen, military, military accoutrements

Representative of military issued accoutrements, possibly Australian Army, late 20th Century. Army water canteen, possibly Australian Army issued, with olive green fabric insulating cover featuring flaps with stud fasteners, black twist top lid attached to aluminium body fixed by aluminium chain that is attached both to base and top of lid. Back of fabric cover has a metal prong threaded through a strong fabric loop which has been sewn on for attaching to a belt. Tag on back sewed on which reads 'Made in Japan'. flask, canteen, military, military accoutrements