A Report showing numerous charts of production objectives for all types of mapping production conducted by the Army Topographic Support Establishment in the Financial year 1998 - 1999A4 size, clear plastic front cover, white plastic back cover, bound with tape. 16 loose pages, 8 x coloured pages showing production rates, 7 x pages roduction summary and RAAF C-130E Hercules replacement programme, 1 x page summarising production.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This is a photograph of the Director Survey - COL Simon Lemon, CO Army Svy Regt - LTCOL Bob McHenry and probably OC Litho - MAJ Terry Lord inspecting the 1St topographic map printed on the new Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Printing Press in c1992. *Estimated date based on the Director’s and CO’s period of appointment. The computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press provided the Royal Australian Survey Corps vastly improved printing capability, as the five colours for a standard topographic map was printed in a single pass. The print room was named Wayzgoose Hall after a medieval printing house festival. Wayzgoose Hall and the Speedmaster printing capability was commissioned by the Commander of the 3rd Military District BRIG P. Davies AM, ADC on Wednesday 27th June 1990. This occasion is covered in more detail in page 145 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4. Colonel Simon Lemon was Director of the Royal Australian Survey Corps from January 1991 to June 1996.This is a photograph of three senior RASvy officers inspecting the first topographic map printed on the Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Printing Press in Lithographic Squadron, Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, c1992. The photograph is on 35mm black and white negative film and was scanned at 96 dpi. It is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. No personnel are identified. royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

These four photographs of SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube capturing topographic features – plotting with a Wild B8 stereo plotter were most likely taken in c1980. Introduced in 1966, the Wild B8 stereo plotter was used for plotting topographic detail and contours. These analogue machines were manually controlled by adjusting the control knobs for the orientation of the 3D image. The B8s used a nine-inch square photo image on a film or glass diapositive which allowed highly accurate extraction of map features. At first, plotting by B8 and B9 equipment was undertaken at the aerial photography scale of 1:80,000 in pencil onto a controlled plotting sheet. Sheets were then inked up and reduced photographically to the 1: 100,000 publication scale for scribe impression production. In these photos SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube was plotting with a pencil or ink pen mounted at the far end of the pantograph arm. The plotting procedure was upgraded to direct plotting in ink with photographic reduction to publication scale. In 1975 four B8s were upgraded with tri-axis locaters as part of the Input Sub-system to enable digital extraction to AUTOMAP 1’s topographic database. When AUTOMAP 2 was introduced in 1982 these B8s were upgraded, and additional machines added to expand the Army Survey Regiment’s digital capture capability. This is a set of four photographs of a technician capturing topographic Features with a Wild B8 stereo plotter in Air Survey Squadron – Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. 1980. The photographs were on 35mm negative film and were scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) to .4) Photo, black & white, c1980. SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube operating a Wild B8 stereo plotter..1P to .4P – no annotations.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, air survey, photogrammetry

.1 The Minute details that the Army Survey Regiment is maintain a contingency production capability until ATSE is operational. .2 The Minute details the Data Aquisition Squadron requirements during the Implementation to ATSE. .3 The Minute details the Hardware, Software, Personnel and skills required during Implementation to ATSE. .4 The Instruction details that the non-core mapping, charting and geodetic (MC&G) activities of the Army Survey Regiment and 4 Fd Svy Sqn were tested under the Commercial Support Program (CSP) process resulting in the decision to award the contract for the provision of non-core mapping services to the ADF to the Preferred In-House Option (PIHO). .1 Contingency Support Capability - Army Topographic Support Establishment (ATSE) Implementation 26 Apr 95 (11 x A4 pages) .2 Data Acquisition Squadron (DAS) Contingency Support Capability - Army Topographic Support Establishment (ATSE) Implementation Apr 95 (4 x A4 Pages) .3 Contingency Support Capability - Army Topographic Support Establishment (ATSE) Implementation 28 Apr 95 (9 x A4 pages) .4 Directorate of Military Survey - Army Instruction for Implementation of the Army Topographic Support Establishment (ATSE) Jun 95 (10 x A4 pages)royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, atse

.1 The Preferred In-House Option (PIHO) proposes to meet the full requirements of the Request for Tender (RFT) by disestablishing Army Survey Regiment and establishing a new organisation which they have named the Defence Topographic Support Establishment (DTSE). It is proposed to locate the DTSE at Bendigo in the GFE facilities offered by the Commonwealth. The DTSE will be staffed by 140 Defence civilians, principally sourced from ex-RASvy members transferring to the Public Service under the provisions of Section 81B of the Public Service Act. Any existing civilian members excess to DTSE requirements are proposed to be managed within the terms and conditions of the Australian Public Service Redeployment and Retirement (Redundancy) Award 1987. Military members who elect to remain in the Service will be subject to redeployment or retraining in accordance with Service requirements. .2 Proposed re-organisation of Product Construction Squadron (PCS). Due to the transfer of Image and capture Sections to Digital Acquisition Squadron wef Jan 1995 it has been necessary to review the structure of those elements remaining within PCS. The review highlighted that there was an imbalance between Mapping and Digital products Troops. This could only be resolved by collapsing these two Troops into one single production element. This would halve the senior administrative personnel needed thus allowing them to be employed in other higher priority technical areas. The proposed restructure of PCS is outlined in Annex A with redundant personnel listed in Annex B. The combined Troop is to be designated "Construction Troop" and comprises 1 Offr and 69 ORs. The role of this Tp would be to perform all digital production. It is further divided into small and Large Format Sections. This division is functionally based and reflects the hardware and software configurations now resident within the Sqn post system upgrade. .3 During the transition period leading to full implementation of the PHIO, the Army Svy Regt and DTSE (later ATSE) will at times operate concurrently whilst Army Svy Regt scales down production and progressively transfers all technical functions to DTSE. army Svy Regt and 4 Fd Svy Sqn will continue programmed production activities until declared operationally ineffective, however a contingency mapping capability will be maintained throughout the period of implementation. Implementation of the PHIO involves a number of related activities including staff recruitment, equipment acquisition and transfer of technical responsibility. This instruction details the coordination of these and related implementation activities. .1 Preferred In-House Option, Army Topographic Support Establishment. Summary of Tender. 10 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. .2 Proposed reorganisation - product Construction Squadron. 9 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. .3 Implementation of the Commercial Support Program (CSP) Digital Topographical support to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Preferred In-House Option 14 Jun 1995. 22 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army svy reg, army survey regiment, atse

This is a set of 24 photographs of Air Survey Squadron technicians capturing topographic Features with a Wild B8 stereo plotter and operating AUTOMAP 1 equipment at the Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, 1980. 17 of these photographs were taken of SPR Nick Van Dalen and SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube capturing topographic features – plotting with a Wild B8 stereo plotter were most likely taken in 1980. See item 6185.4P for black & white copies of photos of SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube operating the Wild B8 stereo plotter. Refer to item 6204.8P for detailed information and additional photographs of the Wild B8 stereo plotter. The history of the AUTOMAP 1 system is covered in more detail with additional historic photographs in pages 116-118 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4. See items 6122.20P, 6183.19P, 6184.20P, 6200.5P, and 6222.17P for additional photographs of the AUTOMAP 1 system.This is a set of 24 photographs of Air Survey Squadron technicians capturing topographic features with a Wild B8 stereo plotter and operating AUTOMAP 1 equipment at the Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, c1980. The photographic proofs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographic proof prints were scanned at 600 dpi. .1) to .8) Photo, black & white, 1980. SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube operating a Wild B8 stereo plotter. .9) to .17) Photo, black & white, 1980. SPR Nick Van Dalen operating a Wild B8 stereo plotter. .18) to .24) Photo, black & white, 1980. CPL Gerry Gunn undertaking AUTOMAP 1 computer system duties..1P to .24P – no annotations.automap 1, royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, photogrammetry

These photographs and a video were captured in May 1997 by Jeff Ruiz and Wayne Walsh from the Army Topographic Support Establishment (ATSE). The video taken onboard an aircraft has not been located at this time. A flight line diagram showing the path of the aircraft taking the video is enclosed in the album. The Army Topographic Support Establishment was created to perform some of the functions of the Army Survey Regiment.A Large Purple covered Album with gold dots containing maps, plans and coloured photographs of Gove Peninsula.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, atse

This is a set of two photographs of Air Survey Squadron technicians - LCPL Peter Murphy and SPR Rachel (Stanford) Scott capturing topographic features with a Wild B8 stereo plotter with AUTOMAP 2 equipment at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, c1990. Refer to item 6185.4P and 6204.8P for detailed information and additional photographs of the Wild B8 stereo plotter. The history of the AUTOMAP 2 system is covered in more detail with additional historic photographs in pages 119, 137-142 and 180 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN 0-646-4: 2120-4. See items 6087.10P and 6223.23P for additional photographs of the AUTOMAP 2 system.This is a set of two photographs of Air Survey Squadron technicians capturing topographic features with a Wild B8 stereo plotter with AUTOMAP 2 equipment at the Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, c1990. The photographs are on 35mm negative film. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographic negatives were scanned at 96 dpi. .1) - Photo, colour, 1990. LCPL Peter Murphy operating a Wild B8 stereo plotter. .2) - Photo, colour, 1990. SPR Rachel (Stanford) Scott operating a Wild B8 stereo plotter..1P to .2P – no annotationsroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, photogrammetry

This is a photograph of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken at Nui Dat, Vietnam in 1969. A nominal roll of personnel and their trade as of the 30th of September 1969, accompanies this photo. Their trades in this photo were as follows - Surveyors Topographic: WO1 Darby Munro, SGT Paddy Strunks, SGT Graeme Birrell, CPL Brian Knight, CPL Colin Laybutt, SPR Roderick Gilbert and SPR Rodney Offer. Draughtsmen Topographic: SGT Terrance Linz, CPL Robert Kay, SPR Peter Aukstinaitis, SPR Lloyd Patterson and SPR Ian Wark. Photographer Cartographic: CPL George Graham. Clerk Admin: CPL Oreste Biziak. Helioworker: CPL Geoffrey White, SPR Lance Percey. Cook AACC: PTE R. Johnston. The first Royal Australian Survey Corps troops arrived in South Vietnam on the 10th of June 1966. This was a detachment from 1st Topographic Survey Troop, which was to give cartographic support to the Australian Task Force. Their main tasks were to establish a Theatre Grid, map compilation and map revision. Engineer Survey Support in the camp and to the civil community and give assistance to the Cordon Search Missions by producing large scale plots from aerial photos with every house and fence etc plotted and then reproduce these by silk screening usually, within a 24-hour period. This support concluded with the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam in 1972. For more information on the career of A Section’s OC MAJ Peter Constantine AM, refer to item 6159P or 6092P. He was the CO of the Army Survey Regiment from 1975 to 1976 and CO of the School of Military Survey (SMS) from 1976 to his retirement in January 1982. His memoirs of active duty in Vietnam ‘Surveyor - Printer Behind the Lines’ was published in 2022. 2IC CAPT Frank Thorogood SB St J’s career culminated at the rank of LTCOL as the CO Army Survey Regiment from 1980 to 1981. More information on the A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop and the Army Survey Regiment’s supporting role is provided in pages 89 to 94 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a photograph of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken at Nui Dat, Vietnam in 1969. The black and white photograph was printed on photographic paper and is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photograph was scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1969. Back row L to R: SPR Lance Percey, SPR Bruce Grisdale, SPR Rodney Offer, SPR Roderick Gilbert, CPL Geoffrey White, PTE R. Johnston, CPL Colin Laybutt, SPR Lloyd Patterson. Centre row L to R: SPR Peter Aukstinaitis, SPR Ian Hanna, SPR Ian Wark, CPL Robert Kay, CPL George Graham, CPL Oreste Biziak, CPL Brian Knight. Front row L to R: SGT Terrance Linz, SSGT Gordon Haswell, 2IC CAPT Frank Thorogood SB St J, OC MAJ Peter Constantine AM, WO1 Darby Munro, SGT Paddy Strunks, SGT Graeme Birrell.An A4 nominal roll of personnel and their trade accompanies the photo, as of the 30th of September 1969. A torn paper identifies the personnel in the photo. Annotated on back of photo – ‘Unit Photo – 1 Topo Svy Tp 30 Sept 69’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

These specifications enable the compilation of digital topographic data for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to support the production of topographic information across a multiple product range covering Australia and its Area of Direct Military Interest (ADMI)A plastic covered four ring folder containing A4 paper, white, ten chapters, metal clip ringsroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, director of survey-army

The purpose of this document is to provide digital Topographic data compilation specifications for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) which are applicable to all areas of the Area of Direct Military Interest (ADMI) for the collection of features and attributes to populate the ADF topographic database.6234.1 A four ringed Folder containing A4 Paper, White, Metal Bindings, Chapters 1 to 8 6234.2 A four ringed Folder containing A4 Paper, White, Metal Bindings, Chapters 8 to 13 and Annexesroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, director of survey - army

These specifications enabled the hard copy representation of digital topographic data for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) covering Australia and nearer regions.Plastic covered white four ring binder, 14 Chapters, 4 Annexesroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, director of strategic military geographic information, dsmgi

Panoramic sketch by George W Bleach A 2nd Anzac Topographical Section. April 11th 1917. View from Heath Trench. Co-ords of O.P.U13.b 30.20Panoramic view of Messines. Printed on cream card. Sepia image. By George W Bleach A 2nd Anzac Topographical Section. April 11th 1917. George W Bleach A 2nd Anzac Topographical Section. April 11th 1917.panoramic view of messines

A topographic map of Victoria with Melbourne as the centre. Provisional edition showing contours in feet. International map of the world [scale] 1:1,000,000. Prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy, Canberra in 1970.A pre-metric map, shows the Hume Highway travelling through towns such as Seymour and Benalla, now by-passed by the Hume Freeway.Map, printed in colour on one side.victoria - maps

By its decision 3998 of 30 July 1984, The Australian Cabinet directed that there be a complete joint administration review of Commonwealth Topographic Mapping Resources and needs and the way in which those needs could be met. This is a Draft Report of that review.A photocopy of a 14 page, A4 Report, stapled top Left-hand corner. Some A3 folded Annexesroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This is a set of 12 photographs of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken from the 25th of May to the 12th of June 1966 during their deployment to Vung Tau, Vietnam. Led by OC CAPT Bob Skitch, the ten personnel from A Section 1st Topo Svy Tp and six personnel from supporting units were the first contingent from the Royal Australian Survey Corps deployed to provide topographic support to the Australian Task Force in Vietnam. They arrived in Saigon, Vietnam on the 10th of June 1966 enroute to the Australian Reinforcement Unit (ARU) “back beach” camp in Vung Tau. The ten RA Svy technical personnel from 1st Topo Svy Tp deployed were: WO2 David Christie, SGT Stan Campbell, SGT Dave King, CPL Jim Roberts, CPL Dennis Duquemin, CPL Des Ceruti, SPR Derek Chambers, SPR Brian Firns, SPR Joe O’Connor and SPR Ron Smith. External personnel deployed were: WO2 Snow Rollston from Northern Command Field Survey Unit, T/CPL Peter Clarke – orderly room corporal, T/CPL Alan Carew – Technical Storeman, SPR Stan Johns – Map Storeman, SPR Boots Campbell – batman/driver and PTE BNF Brunning – cook. The ship featured in photos .1P and .2P was the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney on its 4th voyage to Vietnam. On board were SGT Stan Campbell and SPR Brian Firns, tasked to manage A Section’s stores and equipment. The rest of A Section deployed to Vietnam by air on the chartered Qantas 707B ‘City of Longreach'. A Section’s main tasks were to establish a Theatre Grid, map compilation and map revision; Engineer Survey Support in the camp and to the civil community; give assistance to the Cordon Search Missions by producing large scale plots from aerial photos with every house and fence etc plotted; and then reproduce these by silk screening usually, within a 24-hour period. RA Svy’s support concluded with the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam in 1972. More information on the A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop and the Army Survey Regiment’s supporting role is provided in pages 89 to 94 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 12 photographs of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop (1st Topo Svy Tp), taken from the 25th of May to the 12th of June 1966 during their deployment to Vung Tau, Vietnam. The black and white photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) &.2) - Photo, black & white, 1966. HMAS Sydney departing Woolloomooloo wharf en-route to Vietnam. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp relaxing in a bar before deployment. OC CAPT Bob Skitch in centre of photo. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Unidentified A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel and troops from other units relaxing in a bar before deployment. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel arrival by bus at Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport. OC CAPT Bob Skitch 4th from right. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel boarding the USAF Hercules aircraft enroute from Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport to Vung Tau Airfield. OC CAPT Bob Skitch on left. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel and troops from other units boarding the USAF Hercules aircraft enroute from Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport to Vung Tau Airfield. .8) & .9) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel arrive at the Australian Reinforcement Unit (ARU) “back beach” camp. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel in oppressive conditions work on map products. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Group photo of A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp. OC CAPT Bob Skitch on far right. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Group photo of A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp. OC CAPT Bob Skitch 3rd from right.Annotated with the photo set - ‘ DET 1 Topo Svy Tp Vung Tau 25 May to 12 of Jun 66’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, 1st topographical survey troop

This pamphlet was published by the Army Survey Regiment as an overview of the Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy), its role and unit structure circa 1991, prior to RASvy’s disbandment in 1996. The pamphlet comprehensively detailed the eight steps of topographic map production: Establish Survey Control, Aerial Photography, Aerotriangulation, Stereoplotting, Field Verification, Cartography, Printing and Storage/Map Distribution. Leading technologies used by RA Svy in 1991 included GPS control surveys, 5 colour printing on the Speedmaster offset press and bulk map packaging using the Map Handling Station (with guillotine). Digital map production was operating on the AUTOMAP 2 system, before the “Newheart” system upgrade two years later. Printed on the pamphlet cover was a portion of the plane tabled “four inches to a mile” map of Newcastle. This was compiled and surveyed in 1910 by LCPL A. Barrett, a member of the RAE Detachment, as part of the first major topographic mapping effort of Australia.This is a Royal Australian Survey Corp pamphlet with a historical map printed in colour on cardboard on both sides of the cover. There are 16 pages printed in colour on gloss paper, with photos, diagrams and descriptions. The pamphlet is bounded by two staples on its spine. Each of the 17 images were scanned at 300 dpi in JPEG (.jpg) format and stored on the attached 16 Gb USB memory stick. The images have been converted into MPEG-4 (.mp4) video format, 4Mb in size and runs for 2:16 minutes and is also stored on the memory stick.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

The political and personal controversy over our involvement in the Vietnam war still rages. Only those who were there can tell the story.australia. army. topographical survey troop, 1st, military topography - vietnam, nui dat

The political and personal controversy over our involvement in the Vietnam war still rages. Only those who were there can tell the story. military topography - vietnam, 1st topographical survey troop, nui dat

Topographic map of Nui Datmaps, vietnam, army

Australia is governed by a Federal Government and by six State Governments. National coordination of their respective geodetic survey and topographic mapping activities is effected on the advice of a National Mapping Council. Twenty years ago, at least 95% of Australia was poorly mapped and what maps existed were in need of revision. only a small area of the continent was covered by horizontal geodetic control and there was no scheme for a national levelling survey. Over the intervening period there has been an urgent and increasing demand for topographic maps varying from large scale contoured maps in support of specific engineering projects to rapid reconnaissance maps required for mineral prospecting in remote areas. Superimposed on this has been a defence requirement, specifically for military training areas, and generally for maps of the whole country. During the period much progress has been made. This paper reports on the progress from early colonial days through to the present time and finally hazards a prediction of future trends.Photocopy of 18-page typed report including diagrams, stapled top left-hand corner. Geodetic Survey and Topographic Mapping a Report by BP Lambert Director of National Mapping, Department of National Development, Canberra, Australia, 1968.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, national mapping

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. Chambers Concise Gazetteer of The World Topographical, Statistical, Historical Publisher: W & R Chambers Date: 1895Label on spine cover with typed text PAT ? ? Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Fly paper has stamps from both Warrnambool Public Museum and Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, 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, chambers concise gazetteer of the world

Topographical Map. Full colour. Attached by glue to matching copy of 1:100,000 map sheet, 'Amiens' (as per 9002-Bob).snape collection