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. About Ion L Idriess Ion Llewellyn Idriess was born in Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales on 20th September 1889 and passed away on 6th June 1979 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales at the age 89. After Idriess finished school he worked in the assay office of Broken Hill Proprietary mine. Both Idriess and his mother had typhoid fever when Ion was about 15 years old and it caused his mother’s death. After spending time with his Grandmother in Sydney he found work on a paddle-steamer and had a relapse of the fever. He then went into the western district of New South Wales where he worked in many different itinerant jobs, including rabbit poisoner, boundary rider, drover, sandalwood harvester, shearer, dingo shooter and opal miner. While opal mining at Lightning Ridge he wrote short stories, about life on the opal fields, for the Bulletin using the name “Gouger”. Idriess then moved to North Queensland in search of gold, tin and sandalwood. He travelled over a great deal of the Cape York Peninsula spending a lot of this travel time with local indigenous people; thus began his lifelong interest in their customs. He then spent time on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1914 Idriess travelled to Townsville and enlisted in the 5th Light Horse as a trooper. He became a specialist in sniping and was a spotter for the noted sniper Billy Sing. He saw service in Palestine, Sinai and Turkey. Idriess was wounded at Beersheba and after fighting the Battle of Gaza he was invalided home in March 1918. After recovering from his wounds Idriess again travelled to Cape York Peninsula where he worked with pearlers and missionaries in the Torres Strait Islands. He then went gold mining in Papua New Guinea, buffalo shooting in the Northern Territory of Australia and then exploring in Central and Western Australia. LITERARY WORKS OF IDRIESS In 1928 Idriess settled in Sydney and published the first of his 47 books. In 1931 - “Lasseter’s Last Ride”, became his first best seller. In the years 1932 and 1940 he published three books in each year. “The Cattle King” (1936) and “Flynn of the Inland” (1932) have gone through reprinting forty to fifty times. His last book was published in 1969. Idriess’ books where in general non-fiction and were written in a colourful and immediate story style, taken from life experiences gained during his travels. Idriess was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to literature in 1968. The Great Boomerang Author: Ion L Idriess Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1948Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 919 IDR Pastedown front endpaper has sticker 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, the great boomerang, ion l idriess

Leslie Pryde "MM" Regt No 11986. Refer Cat No 914 for his service history and award.Medallion, gold coloured. In centre is a copper shield with leaves on either side, a blue enamelled boomerang below and blue enamelled ribbon above. Ribbon has text: "The Great War", boomerang has text: "Returned with Honor." Top of medallion has a soldier at attention standing in front of a rising sun. From Wycheproof.Engraved on rear: "Presented to Sgt L Pryde from Wycheproof".wycheproof-civic, military history, medallions

When he died at Camperdown in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun (Camperdown George) (c1820-1883), was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan of the Djargurd Wurrung, still living on Country.Black and white studio photograph of Wombeetch Puyunn (Camperdown George) in traditional dress wearing a headband, kangaroo tooth necklace and possum skin cloak, holding a boomerang and carved shield Back: WOMBEETCH PUUYUUN, CHIEF, AND LAST OF THE LOCAL TRIBEScdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes". Dr Ken Coghill (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) unveiling plaque in front of the Wombeetch Puyuun Monument in the Camperdown CemeteryBack: Dr Ken Coghill unveiling the plaque in front of the Aboriginal Monument in the Camperdown Cemetery Dec 12th 1983cdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes".Dr Ken Coghill (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) unveiling plaque in front of the Wombeetch Puyuun Monument in the Camperdown CemeteryFront of the obelisk "1840-1883 IN MEMORY OF THE ABORIGINES OF THIS DISTRICT. HERE LIES THE BODY OF THE CHIEF WOMBEETCH PUYUUN AND LAST OF THE LOCAL TRIBES".cdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes".Dr Ken Coghill (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) unveiling plaque in front of the Wombeetch Puyuun Monument in the Camperdown CemeteryBack: Dr Ken Coghill unveiling the plaque in front of the Aboriginal Monument in the Camperdown Cemetery Dec 12th 1983cdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes".Dr Ken Coghill (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) unveiling plaque in front of the Wombeetch Puyuun Monument in the Camperdown CemeteryBack: Dr Ken Coghill unveiling the plaque in front of the Aboriginal Monument in the Camperdown Cemetery Dec 12th 1983cdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes".Dr Ken Coghill (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) unveiling plaque in front of the Wombeetch Puyuun Monument in the Camperdown CemeteryBack: Dr Ken Coghill unveiling the plaque in front of the Aboriginal Monument in the Camperdown Cemetery Dec 12th 1983cdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

When he died in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan still living on Country at Camperdown. The Wombeetch Puyuun Grave Monument was erected by his friend and Guardian, James Dawson in 1885, largely at his own expense. At the top is engraved 1840, which marked the beginning of the demise of the local First Nations people. Below are a boomerang, a club, and a message stick. At the bottom is the year 1883 which saw the last of the local First Nations people on Country with the death of Wombeetch Puyuun. On the base are the words: "In memory of the Aborigines of this district. Here lies the body of the chief, Wombeetch Puyuun, and the last of the local tribes". Standing facing the monument is Kaawirn Kuunawarn (Hissing Swan), Elder of the Kirroe Wuurong tribe.Kaawirn Kuunawarn (Hissing Swan at the Wombeetch Puyuun Grave Monument in the Camperdown Cemeterycdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations, first nations people

Pattern-breast hook boomerang shaped wooden object with square top.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This is an exercise book containing the Minutes of the Boomerang Club from 1936 to 1942. The Boomerang Club was a Warrnambool social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in activities that included dinners, balls, dances, Christmas parties and picnics. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. This is a significant item as the Boomerang Club was an important social group in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century. This is an exercise book with a black cardboard cover taped at the spine. The pages in the book are lined in blue and the entries are handwritten in blue and green ink. The cover is stained and blotched. There is a white sticker on the front with the contents listed. Front cover (on white sticker in blue biro): ‘Minutes 1936-1942’warrnambool boomerang club, warrnambool

These are visitor’s cards for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. This club was a social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in social activities that included balls, dances, dinners, Christmas parties and picnics. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. These are significant items as examples of visitor’s tickets from the Boomerang Club, an important social group in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century. These are two visitor’s cards for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. One is a pink card and the other is cream-coloured. The printed material on both is enclosed in an ornamental edging and an ornamental pattern is included in the writingBoth cards: ‘Boomerang Social Club, Visitor’s Ticket, T.A.Tinker, President, E.E. Thurlow, Hon. Sec.’warrnambool boomerang club, warrnambool

This is a member’s ticket for 1938-39 for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. This club was a social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued on until at least 1956. In the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in activities that included balls, dances, picnics, dinners and Christmas parties. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. No information is available on this member, Miss M. Gilmour. This is a significant item as an example of a member’s ticket from the Boomerang Club, an important social club in WarrnamboolThis is a member’s ticket for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club, a small card coloured green with red printed material and the name of the holder of the ticket entered in green ink.‘Boomerang Club, Member’s Ticket, Season 1938-39, Name… Miss M. Gilmour, President W.Pridmore, Secretary L. Tinker’warrnambool boomerang club

This is the Constitution of the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. The Boomerang Club was a social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in activities that included dinners, balls, dances, Christmas parties and picnics. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. This is a significant item as the Boomerang Club was an important social group in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century. This is a small booklet of four pages, two double-sided and two with printing on one side only. It has a red cover and contains printed material. It has an image of a boomerang on the front cover. The pages were originally stapled.Front cover: ‘Constitution of the Warrnambool Boomerang Club, Collett and Munday, Printers, 254 Timor Street, Warrnambool’ The Boomerang image has the word ‘Club’ in the centre warrnambool boomerang club

These are two tickets issued by the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. This club was formed some time in 1934 and continued on until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in activities that included picnics, Christmas parties, balls, dances and dinners. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. No information is available on Messrs Gallacher or Abernethy. Mr Abernethy received a complimentary ticket as he was the President of the club at the time (1948)These items are significant items as examples of the activities of the Boomerang Club, an important social club in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century. These are two Boomerang Club tickets. One is a buff-coloured card for the Members’ Ball on November 4th (no year) with black printing and the other is a pink card with blue printing, a Complimentary ticket for membership for 1948-49. Both cards have a sketch of a boomerang. Card one: Club, Members’ Ball, November 4th, Name…. Mr R. Gallacher, Admittance only by this ticket. (Written list of dances on back) Card two: Boomerang Club, 1948-1949, Complimentary, S. Abernethy, President, W. L. Grant, N. B. Grant, Hon Secs. (on back – Mr S. Abernethy) warrnambool boomerang club, warrnambool

This is a member’s card for the Warrnambool Boomerang Club. This club was a social club that was formed some time in 1934 and continued until at least 1956. By the late 1930s there were nearly 200 members who took part in activities that included balls, dances, Christmas parties, picnics and dinners. Profits from the Boomerang Club functions were donated to local charitable organizations. The member, Mr S. Aberneathy, was a local Warrnambool resident. This is a significant item as an example of a member’s ticket from the Boomerang Club, an important social group in Warrnambool in the mid 20th century.This is a member’s ticket for the Boomerang Club, a card of thick paper, dark red on one side and white (buff-coloured) on the other. One side has gold-coloured printing with a gold boomerang and the other side has the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s name and the name of the member signed in blue ink. There is a small hole on one side to attach the card to a chain. The card is somewhat worn with age. One side: Boomerang Club, Members Ticket, 2/- Other side: J.W.Greening, Secretary & Treasurer, Name…. Mr S. Aberneathy warrnambool boomerang club, mr s aberneathy, boomerang club

This wooden boomerang has been made to promote the Boomerang Club in Warrnambool and to use as a decoration at the Boomerang Club functions. The Warrnambool Boomerang Club was a social club formed in 1934 and it continued until at least 1953. The club had over 200 members enrolled by the late 1930s. The club organized regular activities, including monthly dances, an Annual Ball, Christmas parties, picnics and dinners. Profits from the activities were donated to local charities with over £600 being donated in 1946. This boomerang is of interest as a memento of the Boomerang Club, a social club in Warrnambool in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. This is a wooden boomerang painted brown with white and red lettering on the boomerang face and a white border along the edges. The red paint is fading. There is a small hole at the top for attaching the boomerang to a wall or other object. ‘Boomerang Club.’ history of warrnambool, boomerang club, warrnambool

It appears that the badge has the wrong name spelling and should most likely be “HUTCHESON”. He was born in the Parish of Pine Grove, Wanurp District is in the same area. James Hutcheson had pre war training with the 4th LH at Mitiamo. Enlisted in the AIF 16.3.1916 age 33 years 5 months in the 1st Reinforcements 38th Bn, Embark for England 20.6.1916, disembark 10.8.1916, hospital with “Chill” 19.10.1916 then diagnosed with “Mumps”, rejoin unit 5.11.1916, embark for France 22.11.1916, Hospital 4.12.1916 with “Bronchitis” then finally “Tracheitis”, rejoin unit 2.3.1917, classed as Coy Driver 20.6.1917, WIA 27.7.1917 remaining on duty, embark for England 15.4.1919, embark for Australia 27.5.1919, discharged from the AIF 4.9.1919.Badge brass with central oval shape with image of a soldier, two flags at top each side has either a kangaroo or emu, under is a boomerang shape, ring at top for a chain/other.Rear, “Presented by Wanurp District League to Driver Jas Hutchinson for services rendered in the Great War 1914 - 1919”services rendered, wanurp, great war

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE 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 November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. 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. A Dictionary of Chemistry and Mineralogy Vol 1 Authors: A & C R Aikin Publisher: W Phillips Date: 1807 The label on spine cover with typed text RA 540.3 AIK Fly paper has a boomerang shaped stamp that reads Royal Mint Library, Cat. No. 540 A 1, Acc No. (no number)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, a dictionary of chemistry and mineralogy vol 1, a & c r aikin

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE 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 November 1884 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 fundraising 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 courthouse 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 historical 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 Historical 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 artworks 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. 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. A Dictionary of Chemistry and Mineralogy Vol 2 Author: A & C R Aikin Publisher: W Phillips Date: 1807 The label on spine cover with typed text RA 540.3 AIK The fly paper has a boomerang shaped stamp that reads Royal Mint Library, Cat. No. 540 A 1. Acc No. (no number)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, 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, a dictionary of chemistry and mineralogy vol 2, a & c r aikin

This is a souvenir which would have been mass-produced for tourists with the wording on the boomerang added to suit each different town or place. This type of souvenir was popular in Australia in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. This item came from a Hamilton antique shop.This item is of some minor interest as it demonstrates what tourists were buying in the 1940s. The use of the boomerang would indicate that overseas and local buyers would be attracted by what was seen as a typical Australian symbol. The size of the item would attract those travelling with limited luggage space. The item can be noted by researchers of social history and used for displayThis is a souvenir of Warrnambool in the shape of a wooden boomerang with a small yellow ribbon tied in the middle of the boomerang and a 1940 calendar attached by the ribbon. The wording on the boomerang is in gold lettering. The calendar is in the form of a small booklet. It can be displayed on a hook using the yellow ribbon loop. On boomerang: ‘Greetings from Warrnambool’ On calendar: ‘Calendar’ warrnambool, tourism, souvenir

The badge was issued by the Victorian branch (indicated by the 'V' on the reverse) of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women and is referred to as The Badge of Unity or Tri-Services badge, uniting the armed services of Australia; the Army (rising sun), the Navy (anchor) and the Air Force (pair of wings). The number '57' on the crown represents the year of paid membership; 1957. The badge belonged to Dr W R Angus, who served in the Australian Army as a military doctor during WWII. It was made in Melbourne by Stokes in 1957, around 100 years after the firm was established by Thomas Stokes in Mincing Lane, Melbourne. The firm was operating from Caledonian Lane/Post Office Place in the 1950s. The badge is one of a set of badges collected by Dr W R Angus from the organisations in which he was involved. They are now part of Flagstaff Hill’s comprehensive W.R. Angus Collection, donated by the family of Dr W R Angus, surgeon and oculist. Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women was formed in 1944 to "entourage fellowship and assist those who have served". The organisation is open to members from Australia, British Commonwealth and Allied ex-service personnel. The W.R. Angus Collection: - The W.R. Angus Collection includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. It includes historical medical and surgical equipment and instruments from the doctors Edward and Thomas Ryan of Nhill, Victoria. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1927 at Ballarat, the nearest big city to Nhill where he began as a Medical Assistant. He was also Acting House surgeon at the Nhill hospital where their two daughters were born. During World War II He served as a Military Doctor in the Australian Defence Force. Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool in 1939, where Dr Angus operated his own medical practice. He later added the responsibility of part-time Port Medical Officer and was the last person appointed to that position. Both Dr Angus and his wife were very involved in the local community, including the planning stages of the new Flagstaff Hill and the layout of the gardens there. Dr Angus passed away in March 1970.This Badge of Unity, or Tri-Service badge, is significant for connecting Doctor Angus with organisations that support men and women who performed military service for Australia. The badge was for membership with the organisation, which supports ex-servicemen and women of the three military forces; Army, Navy and Air Force. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The Collection includes historical medical objects that date back to the late 1800s.Badge; a gold-coloured metal and enamel badge. The blue boomerang-shaped band is below an arch of blue, below a crown with a number and coloured red, white and blue. There are symbols in the centre; a rising sun, above a pair of wings, with an anchor in the centre of both. There is red and blue scrollwork behind the symbols. Inscriptions are on the front and back of the badge. There are two loops and pins on the back of the badge. It is a membership badge of the Victorian branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women and was made by Stokes in 1957. The badge has a Serial Number. This badge is part of a set of badges collected by Dr Angus and is part of the W.R. Angus Collection.FRONT; “AUST. LEGION OF / EX-SERVICEMEN & WOMEN” On crown “57” REVERSE; “V” “13156" "STOKES” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, w.r. angus, badge, ladies’ badge, military service, stokes, melbourne, australian legion of ex-servicemen and women, membership badge, 1957 membership badge, ex=service personnel, heraldry, world war ii, second world war, tri-services symbol, badge of unity, rising sun, anchor, pair of wings

'Tiles from the Boomerang Studio' is a prototype of the work 'Year 2052', created while Mooney was an Artist in Resident at Laughing Waters in the Boomerang studio in 2002. Records of flora were collected in and around the Gordon Ford garden in Laughing Waters Road. The work 'Year 2052' is made up of '77' tiles and was acquired by Geelong (Regional) Art Gallery in 2003. Whilst working at the Boomerang studio, local based artist Mooney noticed that “a battle raged in the bush between non-indigenous plants and indigenous plants”. She also noticed how humans “invade” land, changing the surrounding environment and causing irreversible damage. This work is an interpretation of the fragility and value of Nillumbik’s indigenous flora and of its conflict with introduced species. The title of the work (Year 2052) and look of these ‘fossilised specimens’ asks viewers to cast themselves into the future and to look back at today. “These tiles have been found; an incomplete record of flora collected in and around the Gordon Ford garden in Laughing Waters Road. The tiles appear to have been made at the beginning of the millennium. The viewer is asked to contemplate which species are missing”. Mooney works with collected indigenous items to emphasis the beauty of their natural shapes, while at the same time introducing selected materials of contrast or sympathy. Her work creates a great sense of “stillness and peace, of simplicity and connection with the natural world as well at the vanishing Australian bush.”This work is made up of seven handbuilt earthenware oval/round clay 'tiles' - (eight pieces - with one tile intentionally broken), brown in colour and bisque and blackware fired, giving a matt black ash coating on each of the tiles' surface. Each tile has an imprint of a floral specimen indigenous to the Laughing Waters area in Eltham. Each tile has an imprint of the following specimens: tiles, earthenware, flora, indigenous, bisque, boomerang, ford, laughing waters

These type of cigarette silks were included in WD & HO Wills cigarette packets to induce women in particular to take up smoking.|The Word 'Cartophilic?|It is believed that this unusual word was coined in the 1920s by Col. Bagnall, an Englishman, who was the father of the hobby of cigarette card and trade card collecting. It is thought to be a combination of a Latin word, 'carto' meaning 'card and the Greek word 'philic', meaning 'love'.- lover of cards. The term originally related to the collection of the two types mentioned, however, our Society has included postcards in the range of items collected by our members.|The Cigarette Card|The cigarette card began its evolution in the United States of America, in the early 1880s as a plain piece of cardboard used by tobacconists to protect the cigarettes which were sold in that era, not in packets, but loosely. A purchaser would buy his cigarettes then wrap them in paper around the small piece of cardboard, which acted as a stiffener. In fact, for many decades, cigarette cards were known as 'stiffeners' in the USA.|The card depicting 'The Marquis of Lome' is reputed to be the first known cigarette card issued. This is thought to have been in 1879. It did not take long for an enterprising entrepreneur to recognise the advertising potential of the cigarette card, and, very soon, the cards began displaying popular images, often in sets. This had the effect of youngsters, wishing to complete their sets, harassing their fathers to buy a specific brand of cigarettes. The kids who collected cards in the days when they were being issued in the cigarette packets, would hang around outside the local tobacconist's shop, pestering the men who had just bought a packet of cigarette, with the cry: 'can I have the cig can mister?'|It is a proven fact that, here in Australia during the 1930s, at least one set had one card deliberately withheld and issued very sparingly. This card is No. 86 (Mrs Jack Crawford) in the Carreras 'Turf Personality Series'. Thus, in a set of reasonably easy cards to get, this one card is a constant source of frustration for the collector, and as such, commands a premium when it comes to price. It is not hard to imagine the young collector nagging his to Dad to keep buying 'Turf' cigarettes to enable him to finish the set.|From small beginnings the cigarette card soon gave rise to a booming industry in itself. Artists and writers were|employed to produce the cards, which were miniature works of art and served as little encyclopaedia's for the children of the day. By the 1930s cards were being issued in the countless millions. It has been stated, in one book on the history of cards; that 450 million sets of a series produced and issued by the prolific issuer of cards in the United Kingdom, WD & HO Wills. As each set contained 50 cards you would need a calculator with a very long result window to see the answer to how many cards of that series were in circulation.|Australia's involvement would appear to have its beginnings with the English and American firms who shipped their tobacco products here and the cards of American Tobacco Company (ATC) are found in great numbers in early Australian collections; many featuring Australian subjects, e.g. 'Australian Parliament a 1901 issue. Earlier U.S. sets depicting Australians included Goodwin & Co's, so called. 'Australian Series' with cricketers and Australian Rules footballers who were on the sporting scene during the 1880s. The caption of one of theses cards reads:|'W.Hannysee. Captain Port Melbourne Football Club' which enables us to pinpoint the year of issue to either 1889 or 1890.|On the Australian scene the first local manufacturer who issued cards seems to have been The National Cigarette Company of Australia Proprietary Limited, whose 'Tally Ho' packets contained cards from a series of thirteen featuring the touring 'English Cricket Team 1897-8' Of the few Australian manufacturers who issued cards, only two companies issued more the two sets.|Undoubtedly the cards issued by the Melbourne firm Sniders & Abrahams (later Sniders & Abrahams Pty Ltd) are the 'jewels in the crown' of Australian card issues. They issued some thirty-three series, with numerous sub-series and allied issues such as metal badges, metal football shields, celluloid flags etc., which ensured that the hobbyist had a vast range from which to collect. Sporting themes – football, cricket, horse racing – dominate, indicating the Australians' love of sport and the outdoors was as strong in those earlier times as it is today. Military, animals and birds themes were also to the fore, with a touch of culture being provided by 'Shakespeare', 'Dickens', actresses and even classical 'Statuary'. Humour was not forgotten with 'Cartoons and Caricatures', 'Naval and Cricket (double meaning) Terms' and the 'Jokes' series. Art and history were covered by the artist, S.T. Gill's 'Views of Victoria in 1857' while the stereoscopic 'Views of the World' expanded the collectors' knowledge of the world as a whole.|The Sniders & Abrahams series began in 1904 and by 1919 the company was in decline and was eventually taken over by G.G. Goode & Co. Ltd. This company produced one set only, the highly collectable 'Prominent Cricketer Series' issued in 1924. During the early to mid-1920s, J.J. Schuh Tobacco Pty Ltd issued eight series, again containing the popular subjects of sport and war. At least two provincial tobacconists, Lentens of Bendigo and Baillies of Warrnambool, issued private football series. The last series of cards issued by a truly Australian firm was Dudgeon & Arnell's '1934 Australian Cricket Team'.|The Australian market was not neglected by the English companies with WD & HO Wills, Godfrey Phillips and Ogdens all making their contributions. By far the most active issuer was the long-established company Wills, whose 'Cricketers' of 1901 heralded the flood of Australian series, which continued into the mid-thirties.|The onset of the 1939-45 World War sounded the death knell of the cigarette card and very few post-war issues were made, certainly not here in Australia.|The Trade Card|The Trade Card is a non-tobacco item used by manufacturers to promote and advertise their products, in the same way that cigarette cards were. It is uncertain exactly when they were first produced, but in the USA, non-collectable cards were issued by firms in the early 1800s. These were more akin to a latter day 'business card'. It was not until the 1850s, when coloured and pictorial cards were issued to advertise and promote products that the Trade Card|became a collectable item. Many beautiful lithographic cards were produced in this early era and they are very mu sought after by collectors. By the 1870s the issues of Trade Cards became more prolific and it is from this era that more cards are seen.|Again, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date of the first Australian Trade Card and it may be that the highly collectable and extremely rare 'American Candy Co's' - 'Pure Caramels' Australian Rules football card, issued i 1891, is the earliest series. This confectionery firm was located in Fitzroy, a Melbourne suburb. To date only two subjects have been seen.|Another early set was 'Flags', issued by F.H.Fauldings & Co. It featured testimonials of seven English cricketers who toured Australia with the 1894/5 Test team. Fauldings was an Adelaide based firm which manufactured medicinal toiletries, soaps and oils, using the distinctly Australian eucalyptus oil. During the 20th century a multitude of Australian businesses issued trade cards, with confectionery manufacturers such as Hoadleys, Allens, Sweetacres and Australian Licorice producing the majority of them. Again sporting themes dominated with the ever popular Aussie Rules football cards being the most numerous. Cricket issues ran a close second.|Apart from sporting cards, almost every subject imaginable was covered by the Trade Card, making it the most diverse and interesting branch of cartophilly. In contrast to the Cigarette Card, which had its demise prior to the Second World War, the Trade Card is still alive and well.|We all are aware of the long running 'Birds of Australasia' series put out by Tuck-fields Tea and 1 doubt if there is a kitchen drawer in Australia that has not got one or two of these informative and attractive cards floating about in it. These cards were first produced in the early 1960s and are still being inserted in that company's packets of tea. Such is also the case with Sanitarium Health Foods, manufacturers of the well known Weetbix, who began issuing cards, with a wide range of subjects, in the early 1940s and continue to do so.|The 1940s and 1950s saw the two breakfast food giants, Kornies and Weeties dominating the card scene. Kornies footballers were in production fora decade from 1948 to 1959. Four years later in 1963, we saw the start of four decades of Scanlens bubble-gum card issues, both football and cricket. In the mid 1990s, with the end of the Scanlens/Stimorol cards, the Trading Card came on the scene. These cards do not fit under the umbrella of the Trade Card, having been produced and marketed purely as a 'collectable' with no connection whatsoever to any product, which of course is necessary for an item to be classified as a Trade Card.|The earliest British postcard was issued in 1870 and was designed to send short messages; the stamp was printed on the card, therefore it did not require an envelope. It was considered by many to be lowering the postal standards because the texts were no longer private. However the cards were a great success as on the first day of issue in 1870, half a million passed through the London postal centre.|The first illustrated postcards are said to be those introduced by a French stationer in 1870. He realized that French troops fighting in the Franco-Prussian War needed to be able to send short messages to their families and designed a 'postcard' to suit the purpose. As many of the soldiers were illiterate they decorated their cards with sketches of their many activities at the front rather than writing; thus creating a picture postcard. Private enterprise soon saw the great financial possibilities of this new easy and attractive way of communication by post; also sending a postcard cost less than postage for letters. It was correctly assumed that postcards were likely to overtake letter writing in many instances.|Between 1875 and 1882 every state in Australia introduced official postcards, N.S.W. first and Tasmania last. Each state produced a simple type of postcard with a pre printed stamp allied to that state. The stamp side stated 'The Address Only To Be Written On This Side'; the reverse side sometimes carried a simple illustration or decoration with space fora short message, each state extolling their own state's virtues. In 1901, with the advent of Federation, the new Government became responsible for all postal services in Australia and produced postcards for sale in every state. With several mail deliveries each day in most towns, postcards were used for many purposes. One 1906 postcard, with an illustration of fruit, was sent from Mrs X in the morning to her greengrocer ordering her fruit and vegetables to be delivered that afternoon. Another lady asks her charlady to 'come this afternoon'.|Australian private enterprise also began selling pictorial postcards, most companies using the very experienced German printing works who were the worlds best in the field of lithography and fine detailed colour-printing. Many of these beautiful German cards still exist today, 100 years later. Australia did have a few fine printers but they were in the minority. Black and white postcards printed in Australia in the early 1900s were often of good quality e.g. postcards printed by 'The Bulletin', illustrating the works of 'The Bulletins' top artists.|Between c1903-09 The Melbourne company Osboldstone and Atkins etc. printed coloured reproductions of 46 J.A. Turner bush/rural life paintings, which were generally of good quality and became hugely popular and still sought after today. Like thousands of homes in Europe, Britain and U.S.A., many Australia homes had albums of cherished postcards, which were given pride of place for visitors to see and enjoy.|Postcard collecting remained popular but was changing with the times. About 1912 the Australian photographer George Rose of Melbourne began to produce topographical B/W real photographic postcards covering most of Australia and other photographers began to do likewise. These cards soon found their way into collections as well.|WWI and the horrors of war suddenly changed the world; postcards were still in great demand but the subject matter was far more serious. Thousands of postcards from the trenches in European war zones arrived in Australia to be included in family albums. Propaganda and recruitment messages were produced to encourage enlistment. Australian postcard producers began to create cards decorated with gum leaves, boomerangs, wattle etc., which were designed for sending to Australian troops serving overseas. Very few 'pretty' cards were available, as access to the Gentian printing works was no longer possible and exporting of postcards from Britain was very limited. By the end of WWI people had other more serious problems to contend with and the avid postcard collecting hobby declined, fold greetings took over and topographical photographic postcards became a small but steady income for the producers and newsagents etc. in every town.|Fortunately many of these old postcards still exist and are avidly collected by a new generation or postcard collectors. The Australian Cartophilic Society Inc. is one of four postcard/cigarette card organizations in Australia. They are, N.S.W. Post Card Collectors Society; Queensland Card Collectors' Society Inc. and West Australian Card Collectors|Society, and across the Tasman there is a New Zealand Postcard Society.|References:|Picture Postcards of the Golden Age A Collector's Guide by Toni & Valmai Holt. Picture Postcards in Australia 1898 - 1920 by David CookBox of Cigarette Silks ( 10 ) depicting animal motifs, which were placed in cigarette packets as an incentive for women in particular to smoke.|WD & HO Wills|Produced 1911 - 1917personal effects, smoking accessories, recreations, collections