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. Memoirs of William Lamb, second Viscount Melbourne. Author: W M Torrens Publisher: Ward Lock and Co Date: 1890Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 920 MEL Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker and a stamp from 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, memoirs of william lamb, viscount melbourne, w m torrens

Photographer notations on slide: "Lady Elizabeth Melbourne B57" Published: The Age, 3 October 1934 Published title: CENTENARY GIFT PORTRAIT. Published caption: A reproduction of the attractive portrait of Lady Melbourne, the mother of Lord Melbourne, which has been presented to the City of Melbourne, and will hang in the Lady Mayoress’s room at the Town Hall. Trove article identifier: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205879945 Description: A framed mezzotint portrait of a young woman gazing towards her right, with her right arm resting on a table. She is wearing an 18th century style dress and jacket trimmed with ermine tails. A string of pearls is entwined in her upswept hair and through a long lock of hair falling over her shoulder then draping across her bodice. The portrait rests on a cane bottomed chair and a pencil holds it in place. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: In 1934, Mr Roger Dolbey of London donated to the City of Melbourne a mezzotint engraving of Lady Melbourne, mother of the British Prime Minister after whom the Victorian capital city of Melbourne was named in 1837. The engraving was created in 1771 by John Finlayson after Sir Joshua Reynolds. The gift commemorates the centenary of Melbourne. Elizabeth Milbank, Viscountess Melbourne, 1751-1818 was the wife of wealthy Whig politician, Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne. Lady Melbourne was an ambitious political hostess of the Regency period who cultivated beneficial relationships for her husband’s career. She was beautiful and vibrant and men found her easy going, good humoured company. She had many lovers and it is believed that of her nine children, (three of which did not survive childhood) only her first born, Peniston was fathered by her husband. One of her lovers was George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, believed to be the father of her fourth son George and who was his godfather. Lady Melbourne’s second son William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, 1779-1848, was British Prime Minister and a close political confidant and father figure to the young Queen Victoria in the early years of her reign. In 1812, his wife Lady Caroline Lamb, 1785-1828, had a torrid and very public affair with poet Lord Bryon who she described as “Mad, bad and dangerous to know”. As a child, Caroline considered being able to wash a dog as one of her most satisfying accomplishments! The portrait hung in the Lady Mayoress’s room at Melbourne Town Hall. References: CENTENARY GIFT PORTRAIT. (1934, October 3). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205879945 Presentation of Mezzotint of Lady Melbourne (1934, October 2). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10961120 NEWS OF THE DAY. (1934, October 2). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205883518 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Caroline_LambPhotographer notations on slide: "Lady Elizabeth Melbourne B57"