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. Red Dust An Australian Trooper in Palestine Author: J L Gray Publisher: Jonathan Cape Date: 1931Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 940.416 GRA Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a from Corangamite Regional Library Service 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, 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, red dust, j l gray, an australian trooper in palestine

Red Dust Country. G.M. Henriksen. 1st ed. Newtown (Vic.); Neptune Press; 1984. 184 p.; illus. Soft cover. ISBN 0 949583 37 51. Signed by the author on the title page. 2. "To Ben, from Glad H, with best wishes."red dust; g.m. henriksen; otways; wyelangta; mallee;

One red rubber dust blower

Coloured photo set on orange background framed in gold and black frame featuring bunkers and distant soldiersphotograph, nui dat

Ill, map, p.299.non-fictionRecollections of an Australian soldier in Palestine.world war 1914-1918 - australian light horse, world war 1914-1918 - personal recollections

Brown hard covered book with a white and red dust jacket. On flyleaf "J.R. Thyer" Stamped "Technical Book & Magazine Co.atomic structure, chemical bonding, milecules, methane, ethylene, benzene, stereo chemistry

In February 1983, Melbourne experienced a dust storm when red soil from the Mallee blew across the state of Victoria. This poster shown the red dust rolling across Melbourne's skyline.Colour poster printed on papermelbourne, dust storms, mallee

329 pages, illustrated, navy blue linen cover and red paper dust jacket.non-fictionThis volume of the Admiralty Manual of Navigation describes off-shore navigation - the safe conduct of a ship across the open sea where, in general, hearings of objects on land cannot be obtained except by means of radio waves (i.e. using radio fixing aids). The first chapters are mainly concerned with distances, courses, tracks and charts; then various methods of obtaining position lines and positions from astronomical observations are explained, including a rapid. method in the last chapter. The volume also contains an outline of meteorrology and weather forecasting.howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, navigation, education

544 pages, illustrated, navy blue linen cover and red paper dust jacket.non-fictionThis revised edition follows the previous editions in giving a practical guide to navigation and pilotage which, although written primarily for naval officers, will be suitable for all students of navigation. Astronomical navigation and meteorology can be read in Volume II of this manual. The quality of detailed thoroughness that has always distinguished this book is retained, and it has been brought up to date, particularly in the chapters on radio aids to navigation and navigational instruments.howard timbury, first fleet fellowship victoria, interest group, navigation, education

Details the story of Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of a massacre of Australian nurses by the Japanese during WWII.Orange buckram hardcover book with title in gold on cover and spine. Red dust cover with image of nurses and inset colour picture of Vivian Bullwinkel in red, grey and white nurse's uniform. 239 plain paper pages with cut edges and illustrations.On front end paper "John W Bill Toon OAM. 8th Div AASC. Ex POW. VX30397. Siam Burma Death Railway Slave 1942-45" and "Donated by Bgo YMCA" books, military history

Large red cover book (dust jacket missing)non-fictionDescription of passengers liners with photographs, funnel colours.passengers liners, passengers ships, mission to seafarers, seamen, seafarers

A brown hardcover landscape format book with a red dust jacket which has a large coloured painting of a country cottage set amongst gum trees, by the author and artist Frank Mutsaers. It has 42 coloured plates with many accompanying black and white sketches. The title page is signed by Frank in blue biro.non-fictionFrank's love for Australia is reflected in his paintings which capture the moods of the Australian landscape.art books, australian landscape, australian art, australian heritage

After the shell of a 1977 HZ ambulance was located in Toowoomba, the Museum transported it back to the workshop. On inspection it was seen that the shell was in fair condition other than the firewall and drivers side floor, which were rusted out and needed to be replaced. The body is the normal van size but is fitted with an extra door on the driver’s side and a small seat where the doctor/ambo sits. Other than that the only other things were red dust and old wasp nests. After many months of restoration the ambulance now has a 173 red motor, Trimatic automatic transmission and the body has been painted in the Queensland Ambulance Service colour and markings. As the base station of the ambulance is unknown, other that they were used in the outback, we have made the decision to base it at Mt Isa We thank the Victorian Ambulance Historical group for the donation of the stretcher and other items. Also to the locals who donated the chassis, engine and body parts. Yellow 3 door van done up as an Ambulanceambulance, van, car

Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal 1914-1920 (being a list arranged regimentally & alphabetically of all those awarded the DCM between August 1914 & June 1920).Hard cardboard cover, red buckram. Gold print front & spine. Red paper dust cover with plastic cover. White print on front & spine over red / navy blue broad vertical stripes. book, dcm, distinguished, conduct

Hard covered, red buckram with dust cover. Dust cover varying colours due to age, black & red print. 212 cut pages, no illustrations.A Dictionary of Forces' Slang 1939 - 1945 Edited by Eric Partridge Navel Slang Wilfred Grandville Army Slang Frank Roberts Air Force Slang Eric Partridge books, language

Dust cover red, black, blue & white. Black buckram hard cover. 320 pages, illustrated.Sister M. Seagravebooks, military, history

Hard covered, illustrated buckram bound book. Red illustrated paper dust cover. 536 cut pages. Contains illustrations & photos all theatre & World War II 1939 - 1945.books-military-history, illustrations, readers digest

Book, black hard cover with red cloth binding & red, white & black dust jacket. Front cover has background of a red circle with 7 lines radiating from the bottom. 462 pages.Written on title page: John W Toon OAM Ex POW 8th Div AASC Donated by: Bgo YMCAbooks, military history, prisoners

288 p. ; red cover, original dust-jacket removed, image from it has been pasted to front cover.Title and author's name handwritten on spine. Title page missing, limited information for catalogue record.fictionRomance fictionfiction

Hardcover book with red board cover and dust cover with photo of AIF statue of two soldiers and black back - 308 pages including indexnon-fictionwar history, war memorials