The Warrnambool and District Historical Society was housed since the early 1970s in the old caretaker’s cottage in Gilles Street (called today History House). While History House was being renovated the Historical Society, in association with the Warrnambool Family History Group, was housed in the Mechanics Institute building at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. In 2013 new buildings were placed at the rear of Mozart Hall next to History House and called Heritage Works. The two groups moved from Flagstaff Hill late in 2013 and the new facility was officially opened in March 2014 by the Premier of Victoria, Dr Denis Napthine. The Mozart Choral Group was also involved in the opening as this group shares some of our facilities.This invitation is of some historical importance as a record of the opening of HeritageWorks - a significant milestone in the history of both the Warrnambool and District Historical Society and the Warrnambool Family History GroupThis is an A4 sheet of thickened card. It has a cream-coloured background with the logo of Heritage Works in red and green print and the other printed material is in black print. There is an image in grey tonings of the old Sea Water Baths in Gilles Street at the bottom of the sheetwarrnambool and district historical society, heritage works

Peterborough was in the Warrnambool Council area for a period of time.Low level of significancePrinted and bound bookwarrnambool

136 page softcover book. Front cover has the Title: "Yalla-Y-Poora On The Fiery Creek when the cannon's roar was stilled" printed over a coloured print of Eugene von Guerard's painting of Yalla-y-Poora; Back cover: Three colour photographs soldier settlement farming family descendants, soldier settler house and tractor. Yalla-Y-Poora On The Fiery Creek printed on spine.non-fictionNumber Six in James Affleck's series of book on Soldier Settlements in Western Victoria. An edited compilation of settler families' own stories, combined with a reincorporation of a previously published history of the area, profiles of local people and organisations illustrated with maps, photographs and poetrysoldier settlement, yalla-y-poora

A4 soft bound book with photograph of timber house in country location with post and wire fence and three children walking towards the house; a girl in light-coloured dress carrying a school case is in the middle with a boy in crossover top shorts with school bag over their right shoulders on either side of her. Text is black.non-fictionSoldier settler family stories from the Hawkesdale, Macarthur and Penshurst areas.military history, soldier settlement wwii, hawkesdale, macarthur, penshurst, eugene von guerard, robert dowling, first australians

This is the Common Seal of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society which is normally used for certifying legal documentation. The Society was established in 1966 and became an incorporated body in 1986. This is a stamp on a rounded base with a plastic cover and a black and red plastic handle. On handle: ‘ALLSTAMPS’ On stamp cover: ‘Warrnambool & District Historical Society Incorporated’ On stamp: ‘The Common Seal of Warrnambool & District Historical Society Incorporated’ warrnambool & district historical society, common seal

This badge was in use some years ago by a member of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society, Barbara McLeod, a long-serving member and the current Treasurer of the Society. This item is of minor interest as a badge used by the Warrnambool & District Historical Society several years agoThis is a rectangular badge with white printing on a green background. It has a black magnet on the back. Warrnambool & District Historical Society Inc Barb McLeod Treasurerwarrnambool & district historical society, barbara mcleod, badge

This book has been in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society for many years and little is known of its origins. ‘Anne Watson’ may be Annie Watson, nee Grant (1830-1906), the wife of John Watson who came to Victoria in 1855 and had a farm in the Cudgee area. There is a reference to a ‘G. Geary’ as a member of the Belfast (Port Fairy) Choral Society in 1860. This is an early memento of settlers in the Warrnambool area and their religious adherence and, as such, is of some interest. This is a hard cover book of 391 pages. The cover is brown leather with gold lettering on the spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. There are two mauve stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the front and back pages. The cover is a little scuffed. ‘Presented to Anne Watson by her nephew, Godfrey N. B. Geary, Oct. 4th 1856’. history of warrnambool, anne watson

This is an album of Australian official photographs of Australian participation in World War One. Enlargements of the photographs could be obtained in the 1920s from the Australian War Museum in the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. World War One (1914-1918) was a highly significant event, not only in world history, but also in Australian history – a time when Australia participated to a strong degree, with a great number of Australian men and women dying in the war. These photographs were important in the 1920s as they showed war scenes and military activities that were not available to the public when the war was in progress. They are still important today showing Australian military action in World War One, a signal event in Australia’s history. The number of World War One War Memorials in most Australian towns and small settlements is an indication of the effect on the Australian people of the sacrifice of the lives of so many young people. Warrnambool was just one place in Australia that built a war memorial in the 1920s and continues today to remember World War One heroes as well as those from later wars. This is a brown photograph album containing 72 black and white photographs of Australian soldiers in World War One (Gallipoli, Palestine, France etc). The photographs have been commercially produced. There are four photographs to each page mounted on card. The cover is cardboard and the pages are bound with multi-coloured string. The cover has an imprint of a lady (ancient Greek style).Stamp of Warrnambool & District Historical Society world war one, history of warrnambool

This Welsh Bible belonged to Ellen Hughes who was Welsh-speaking and the daughter of a farmer from Caernarfonshire, Wales. In 1874 she married William Jones of Warrnambool and became a stepmother to Robert Jones who was to become the owner of the property The Union, near Woolsthorpe. Robert’s daughters, Gwen and Edna Jones, gave this Bible to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. They were both members of the Society. This book is of great importance as a beautiful memento of the 19th century when the Welsh Calvinistic tradition was strong in the Warrnambool district and a Gaelic church was operating in Woodford and services in Gaelic services were held regularly in Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book with a brown leather cover with gold metal edging and a gold clasp. The cover has embossed patterns on the front back and spine. The pages have gilt edges. The text is in the Welsh language and is presented in two columns per page. There is one blue stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Presented to Miss Ellen Hughes by her wellwishers Hugh and Kate Pritchard, Llanfairfechan, July 14th 1871’ ellen hughes, gaelic church, woodford, history of warrnambool, the union

Dame Nellie Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell (1861-1931), was the first Australian to gain international fame as an opera singer and one of the best-known singers in late Victorian times. She took the name ‘Melba’ from her home town, Melbourne. She sang in Warrnambool on at least two occasions, staying at local homes, including ‘Summer Hill’, belonging to the Murray family and ‘Lyndoch’ as the guest of Florence Lake. In 1927 she sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall with three other assisting artists and this programme records that event. The Warnambool and District Historical Society has an evening bag that was given by Nellie Melba to Miss O’Donnell, a maid at ‘Lyndoch’ at that time. This programme is of considerable significance as it is a memento of the occasion in 1927 when the famous Australian opera singer sang at the Warrnambool Town Hall during her farewell tour. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded into two to make four pages. The front cover has a decorative border and blue printing and a Warrnambool & District Historical Society stamp and the back cover has an advertisement. The middle pages contain blue printing. The folds are torn in parts.Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tourdame nellie melba, history of warrnambool, lyndoch, melba farewell tour

This booklet was produced for Thomas Randall, the proprietor of the Ozone Hotel, Warrnambool. The booklet has the front cover missing and the title of the booklet is actually ‘A Visit to Warrnambool’. It is a publicity booklet given out gratis to prospective clients of the hotel. The Ozone Hotel was originally called the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace and opened in 1890 as a temperance hotel, a splendid building with over 100 rooms. In December 1891 the Coffee Palace was granted a Colonial Wine Licence and in 1895 it was renamed the Ozone Hotel. Thomas Randall was the hotel keeper from 1894 to 1907. In 1920 the Ozone Hotel, after being closed for some time, was re-opened as the Hotel Mansions and a full liquor licence was obtained in 1923. In 1929 the building was burnt down and the present-day Hotel Warrnambool was built on the site. This booklet is of great significance as it documents the splendour of the Warrnambool Ozone Hotel when it was at its best. This building is regarded as the finest and most elegant building ever built in Warrnambool and this booklet contains the only photographs we have of the interior of a 19th century/early 20th century hotel in Warrnambool. This is a soft cover booklet publicizing the Ozone Hotel, Warrnambool, published for the proprietor Thomas Randall early in the 20th century. The front cover and several pages at the back are missing. The booklet contains advertisements, both local and Melbourne ones, black and white photographs of Warrnambool and district and of the interior and exterior of the Ozone Hotel, an article on the town of Warrnambool and extracts from the hotel’s Visitors’ Book. Most of the pages contain black and white ornamental motifs. One of the pages at the front of the booklet is torn in half. The booklet is bound with staples. On first page: Warrnambool & District Historical Society Stamp (smudged)grand ozone coffee palace/ozone hotel/hotel mansions, thomas randall, history of warrnambool

This book written by Alan McLean records the historical details concerning the wreck of the Fiji at Moonlight Head, Victoria in 1891. The ship was travelling from Hamburg and bound for Melbourne when it was wrecked at Moonlight Head. Twelve lives were lost and a subsequent enquiry found the captain to be guilty of negligence. Residents of Warrnambool and district had some connection to the wreck as Joseph Jordan, a Warrnambool photographer, took photographs of the wreck scene and was involved in a controversy regarding the late arrival of rescue equipment and residents from the Warrnambool area were charged with stealing some of the wrecked cargo.This book is of considerable local interest as the wreck of the Fiji was connected with Warrnambool and district and affected many local residents.This is a soft cover book of 176 pages. It has a cover with a blue background, some printed material and two colour photographs. The book contains an acknowledgement, an introduction, 21 chapters and appendices. It also contains black and white and colour illustrations, maps and other images. To Warrnambool and District Historical Society With Best Wishes Alan McLeanwreck of the fiji, history of warrnambool, alan mclean, warrnambool photographer

This baker’s wagon or cart transported and delivered bread and other baked goods in the Warrnambool area. It currently has advertising for H.H. Smith & Co. Henry Huntington Smith (1857-1941) owned and operated his Warrnambool bakery in the late 19th and early 20th century. However, the design of the wagon is similar to those used by local bakers in the 1930s and 1940s and probably originated from Stephenson’s Bakery in Warrnambool, which operated around that time. The wagon’s original internal shelves were removed in the early days of Flagstaff Hill so that children could have rides around the village in a horse-driven cart. BAKERS’ HISTORY There were many bakeries in Warrnambool in the 19th to mid-20th century. Each bread bakery made horse and cart deliveries in its allocated zone. SMITH’S BAKERY; – as shown on the wagon’s signage. Henry Huntington Smith (1857-1941) was born and educated in Warrnambool. He worked at Davis’ steam biscuit factory in Timor Street before he began his own bakery business in 1885 near the corner of Fairy and Koroit Streets. A few years later Smith built a new bakery on the corner of Fairy and Lava Street where it still stands today (2025) as Monaghan’s Pharmacy. The building was designed by James McLeod in 1892 as a bakehouse, shop and residence for Smith The address was known locally as Smith’s Corner. Next door to the bakery, at 136 Fairy Street, were stables built by Jobbins and McLeod in 1886 for William Cust. A photograph in the archives of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society shows the 1892 building with four fancy horse-drawn wagons on the street with white-clad drivers and a promotional stand erected with 5 bakers in uniform and the signage “H H Smith & Co, Pastry Cooks and Confectioners”. One of the wagons appears to have “H H Smith” painted on the side. H.H. Smith & Co. placed an Advertisement in the Weekly Times in December 1896 promoting its business as bakers, confectioners and pastry cooks, praising their shop as an ‘ornament to the town’ with ‘neat appointments’ and ‘dainty decorations’. It also boasted of supplying a large number of customers within a twelve-mile radius of Warrnambool. In November 1919 The Warrnambool Standard announced the marriage of Henry H Smith, Mayor of Warrnambool, to Jeannie Samson-Goodman in East Adelaide. In the same newspaper was a notice that Frank Crossley was to open as baker and pastry cook in H.H. Smith’s premises. As well as being the proprietor of the H.H. Smith Bakery, Henry Huntington Smith was a Councillor for the Warrnambool Municipality from 1913 to 1937 and Mayer for two terms. In December 1919 during his first term as Mayor, he was honoured for the work he had done with returning soldiers after World War I, receiving a document in recognition of this work, presented by the Mothers, Wives and Sisters of returned soldiers. Smith was very interested and involved in the community in many roles, including being the Vice President of the first Warrnambool and District Historical Society. STEPHENSON’S BAKERY: – believed to be the past owner of the wagon. The last owner of the bakery was Harold Stephenson. Stephenson was enlisted in the A.I.F. and was invalided home in 1943 before the end of the Second World War. He also served as a Councillor from 1958 to 1976, during which time he served six terms as Mayor for the City of Warrnambool (1966-1973) while he had the bakery. He was very involved in many local organisations including the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club and the Road Race Committee. He died in 1985, lauded as being one of Warrnambool’s “most distinguished civic leaders”. It has been said that the baker injured in World War II invented a special contraption to enable him to get up into the wagon and that he alerted his customers that he was in their vicinity by blowing a whistle. The customers would come out and choose their bread from the back of his wagon then pay him for it. However, another account is given by a man who once earned pocket money by helping the baker on his rounds. He says that it was Stephenson, the owner and manager of the bakery, and not the delivery baker who received a significant injury during the war, making him unable to climb the stairs of his upstairs accommodation at the bakery, therefore causing him to sleep downstairs. At this time in the early to late 1940 Stephenson’s bakery had three wagons, one for each of the delivery rounds. The wagons were painted black and yellow. Two of the drivers were Stan Lake and Ali (Alec) Dean who both had wagons with the covered cabin design. The third driver was Bill Lake who had a flat wagon. Stan Lake delivered in the area around Lava and Koroit Streets, Ali Dean had another round and Bill Lake had the Dennington area. Bread continued to be delivered into the 1960s but by this time the delivery vehicles were motorised. The goods produced at Stephenson’s bakery included bread baked in different shaped tins such as High Tin, Sandwich and Vienna. Some shapes were easily divided into half by breaking them apart, therefore the baker could make two-quarter loaves from a half loaf, satisfying different needs. There was the option of white or brown bread, sweet buns, fruit buns and Boston buns. The baker’s assistant was known to take great delight in ‘trimming’ the broken halves of excess bread and crust, enjoying his treat. THE BAKERY PREMISES: – Southeast corner of Fairy and Lava Streets, Warrnambool. The building retains the original cast iron veranda. Above the veranda, a motif of a wheat sheaf in ornamental plaster can be seen. Inside the building, there are still some of the original fittings. The building was classified by the National Trust in August 1979. After the Second World War, an official system of zoning was introduced as a fair way for the baking industry to operate. In 1949 different pricing was introduced by the Government for either delivered or retail purchased bread. Many of the small local bakeries went out of business after the Government banned zoning. The way was made open for the larger bread manufacturers to enter the local market with cheaper prices. Some of those companies were Mc Queens, Tip Top, Twisties, and Sunicrust, (Mc Queens ‘new’ bakery building was where the current Toyworld shop now stands, is, in the Ozone carpark.) O’Grady’s Bakery, later changing hands and known as Burkes Bakery, was on Fairy Street near the Timor Street intersection, on the North West side. There was also a bakery named Almay. The baker’s wagon is significant because of its association with H.H. Smith’s Bakery in Warrnambool.. The H.H. Smith’s Bakery building on the corner of Fairy and Lava Streets, built in 1892, is classified by the National Trust, August 1979. Smith Street Warrnambool was named after Henry Huntington Smith, who was a Warrnambool Councillor 1913 – 1937 and Mayor 1919 – 1921. Baker’s wagon, often referred to as a baker’s cart. Four wheeled horse-drawn delivery wagon, front wheels smaller than rear wheels. Wagon is clad with metal sheets and lined with varnished timber panels. Wheels have metal rims, wooden spokes and rear wheels have wooden brake pads. Horse shaft is timber with metal fittings. Front has a metal lamp holder, brake lever, metal hand grips and decorative metal foot plates. The wagon has suspension leaves on back and sides and double suspension leaves on the front. Driver’s area at front has a roof, glass side windows and wooden box seat with hinged compartment accessing wagon storage area. Door above back of seat has buckled leather handgrip strap attached, door slides open for access to wagon area. Back of wagon has a wooden step and a split door; top door has ventilation louvers, both doors have metal latches. Wagon is painted cream with brown trim and signage and green step. Remnants of red and green paint are visible; underside of seat panel is painted grey. Wagon advertises H.H. Smith & Co. Baker, a Warrnambool business established in 1885, but is of a more modern design seen around 1930’s and 1940’s and most likely belonging to Stephenson's bakery. Brown signwriting on sides of wagon “H.R. SMITH & CO. / BAKER” Brown signwriting across front of wagon “BAKER” warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, baker’s wagon, h.h. smith baker, warrnambool, henry h smith, jeannie samson-goodman, frank crossley, mayor of city of warrnambool, vice president of warrnambool and district historical society, stephenson’s bakery warrnambool, harold stephenson, warrnambool surf life saving club, road race committee, national trust building, stan lake, bill lake, ali dean, 19th and 20th century bakers, davies steam biscuit factory warrnambool, james mcleod building designer, jobbins and mcleod, william cust, h h smith & co, pastry cooks and confectioners, bakery trade, bread delivery wagon

This book contains poems written by Richard Lawson and Emile Louis Meyrat when they were fellow teachers at the Warrnambool College/Academy early in the 20th century. Dr Richard Lawson (1875-1971) was born in Warrnambool, the fifth child of Thomas and Susan Lawson (shopkeepers in Timor Street). He attended primary schools in Warrnambool and Cobden and then went to Stanley’s Warrnambool Grammar School where he won a scholarship to attend Melbourne University. In 1899 he returned to Warrnambool and in partnership with William Oakley ran a school, the Warrnambool Academy. They were firstly established in Koroit Street and then at ‘Upton’ in Canterbury Road. They bought out the school formed by the amalgamation of Scott’s School and Stanley’s Grammar (Warrnambool College) and the school was then known as the Warrnambool College/Academy. This school closed in 1911 and Lawson became a teacher at the Warrnambool High School. He later became a lecturer at Melbourne Teachers’ College and gained a Doctorate with a thesis on literary translations. With James Elijah Lawson produced four volumes of ‘The National Grammar’ and two English Literature text books. In 1924 he became Professor of Education at the University of Otago, New Zealand. While in Warrnambool Lawson was an active sportsman, enjoying games of tennis and cricket. Emile Louis Meyrat, a South Australia born about 188, was educated at Way College and was a teacher at Lawson’s school. He and his wife, Annie Hawkins, had a daughter, Pauline Marie Louise, born in Hawthorn in 1909, but the couple divorced in 1914. In 1912 Meyrat was in Switzerland and published a poem called ‘Eurydicean’. Meyrat dedicated his poems in ‘Poems By Two Friends’ to his father’s memory. The date of the book, ‘Poems By Two Friends’ is printed in the Preface of the book – ‘May 20, 1909, Warrnambool College’. This book is of great significance as it is an original copy of the poems produced by two people, Emile Louis Meyrat and Richard Lawson, teachers at the Warrnambool College/Academy in 1909. This school is important in the history of education in Warrnambool and Richard Lawson is a key figure in this history. He also later had a distinguished career in education in both Australia and New Zealand. This book is rare and one of the few early 20th century books surviving that was written by local Warrnambool people and produced in Warrnambool. It is also of literary interest as an example of the type of poems produced by well-educated people early in the 20th century – classical and florid in style. This is a soft cover book of 100 pages. The cover is dark green with the title of the book in green print inside an ornamental pattern of lines. There is a Latin quotation inside the front page and some of the poems have French or Latin sub-titles. The book has an Index listing the 61 poems and a Preface. The book is bound with staples, glue and some stitching using string. Front cover and inside first page: Stamp of Warrnambool & District Historical Societyemile louis meyrat, richard lawson, warnambool college/academy, history of warrnambool

These are three volumes of Peloubet’s Select Notes. The book contents are described as ‘Inductive, Suggestive, Explanatory, Illustrative, Doctrinal and Practical’. The books were issued as curriculum material for Sunday Schools and were first published in the mid 1870s and continued to be published for the next 100 years. These three volumes belonged to M. P. McMeekin and this is presumed to be Margaret Parker McMeekin (1868-1948), the daughter of John McMeekin and Isabella Parker of Warrnambool. John McMeekin was the Rate Collector and Inspector and then the Valuer for the Warrnambool Shire in the 1860s, 70s and 80s. Two sons, William and James, operated a produce export business in Kepler Street under the name of McMeekin Brothers and another son, Charles was an auctioneer in Warrnambool. It is surmised that Margaret McMeekin was a Sunday School teacher either in Warrnambool or Port Fairy. These books are of interest as examples of what was taught in Sunday Schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are also of interest because they belonged to Margaret McMeekin, a member of a prominent family in Warrnambool at that time. These are three books of a religious nature written by F. and M. Peloubet and published in 1895, 1898 and 1904. .1 A hard cover book of 346 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnmbool & District Historical Society and a handwritten name are on the first page .2 A hard cover book of 344 pages with a brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. Two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society are on the first and last page. The cover has worn edges. .3 A hard cover book of 358 pages with a greenish brown cover and gold lettering on the spine. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the first and last page. There is a black and white full page plate at the beginning of the book and this is protected by a piece of tissue. ‘M.P. McMeekin, Port Fairy’ (1895 volume) sunday schools, margaret mcmeekin, warrnambool history

This book was a present from James Dickson to John Glass Cramond in 1897. These two men were business partners and friends. They established the drapery, ironmongery and clothing business of Cramond and Dickson in Warrnambool in 1855 and this business remained as an important store in Warrnambool until 1973. John Cramond was Mayor of Warrnambool from 1876 to 1877 and from 1881 to 1882.This is a most significant item as it belonged to a prominent Warrnambool man and was given to him by another prominent Warrnambool citizen. The store of Cramond and Dickson was one of the best-known and most important shop in Warrnambool for nearly 120 years. This is a brown leather-bound book with a red lining on the inside cover. The book has 900 pages and was printed in 1893. The contents include an English Grammar, an English Dictionary, the population of European Capitals, a list of Cities and Towns in Britain, a list of Animal, Vegetable and Mineral productions, a list of Proverbs, a Law Dictionary, a Compendium of Modern History and the Coronets of Princes of the Blood and of the Peerage. The printed material has two columns per page. The cover is somewhat scuffed and the red lined-page is ragged (silverfish damage?).‘Mr J.G. Cramond from James Dickson, 5 May 1897’ Warrnambool and District Historical Society stamp , W.B. 124 john glass, cramond james dickson

This book contains the minutes from a wide range of community groups such as Sun Youth Travel Scheme, Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management, Victorian Centenary Celebration, and Testimonials for various councillors, Freedom from Hunger Campaign, Historical Society, Miss Australia Quest, Meals on Wheels, Winston Churchill Memorial Appeal, and Warrnambool Cricket Grand Reserve. The meetings were held in the period 1950 to 1973.An interesting collection of minutes with a very diverse cross-section of community groups. It shows the workings of councillors with a range of community groups some of which such as Meals On Wheels have become an important part of community support for people. Red cover. Navy blue and white patterned inside front and back covers.188 blue lined pages with handwritten minutes for various sub committees and community groups.The letter M on base of spine. A shell series Product No 4222. warrnambool, minute book minutes book 1950- 1973, warrnambool and district historical society, sun youth travel scheme, warrnambool foreshore reserve committee of management, victorian centenary celebration, freedom from hunger campaign, miss australia quest, meals on wheels, winston churchill memorial appeal, warrnambool cricket grand reserve

This little book is very old, presumably 19th century, but the wording on the front cover is indecipherable, no date is evident and the first and last pages are missing. The book was owned by Mary Jane Freckleton with the main inscription written in an adult hand – ‘Mary Jane Frickelton, Mailers Flat’. The spelling of Mailers Flat with an ‘e’ was not a mistake but this was the common spelling in the 19th century and the early 20th century. According to the Freckleton family history ‘Freckleton’ was sometimes spelled ‘Frickelton’ or ‘Frickleton’. Mailors Flat is nine kilometres from Warrnambool and the Mailors Flat School, number 1210, was opened in 1872 in Caramut Road and closed in 1994. The first Head Teacher was Julian Castles. There were Freckelton families in the 19th century in Port Fairy, Caramut, Woolsthorpe, Woodford and Mailors Flat. The Freckletons at Mailors Flat were engaged in farming. Mary Jane Freckleton was for a time a pupil teacher at Mailors Flat School. She was born at the Injemira property and married Henry Giles. This is an interesting book because of its age and because it belonged to Mary Jane Freckleton, a member of the Freckleton families, early settlers in the areas north of Warrnambool. She may have used the book when she was a pupil teacher at the Mailors Flat School. This is a hard cover book of 284 pages (some pages missing). The cloth cover is brown and much torn and stained. There are 86 chapters of prose and verse and a sprig of dried flowers is enclosed in the pages. There is the red stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the first page and several snippets of writing in black ink on the front and back pages.‘Mary Jane Frickelton Mailers Flat’mary jane freckleton, mailors flat school

This is a school text book used at Wangoom State School by members of the Giles family. The book contains the names of Allan Giles and Henrietta Giles. The Giles family lived on the Allansford Road. Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later became known as Wangoom State School. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an example of an English Grammar book used in Victoria early in the 20th century. It is also of interest as a school book used by members of the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area.This is a soft cover book of 80 pages. The cover is dark red with black lettering and an ornamental border. The cover is very stained and worn. At the front and the back of the book and on the back cover are advertisements for other books published by Allman and Son. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and pencil. There is a purple stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page of the text. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ ‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Allansford Road’ wangoom state school, giles family, history of warrnambool

This book was given in 1847 to E. Callender by an unknown person (‘C.E –‘). There is a reference in the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper to an Adam Callander, a Port Fairy baker whose wife Alice committed suicide in 1870 and, more importantly, a reference to a Miss Callender arriving as a ship passenger to Warrnambool in July 1854. There is a record of Eliza Callender marrying Peter McFarlane in 1858. The book may have been a New Years’ Day present or a birthday present or a presentation to someone leaving England to migrate to Australia. This book is kept because of its inscription and its early date (1847 – some months before Warrnambool was founded). Further research may reveal the extent of the book’s significance. This is hard cover book of 320 pages. The cover is dark brown with embossed scrolls on the front cover and gold lettering on the spine. The book has eight chapters, including a biography of the author, Matthew Henry, and two black and white sketches. On the first page is the stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. The cover is slightly stained.‘To E. Callender with kind love from C.E- (the last letter is not clear – it could be an ‘E’ or a ‘D’ or merely a decorative flourish) ‘1st January 1847’ e. callender, warrnambool, work of the english puritans divine

This is a programme for a Service of Intercession in Relation to the War. It was held by the Methodist Church (Victoria and Tasmania Conference) in October 1915. The Wesleyan Methodist Conference at Birmingham, England requested that Sunday October 31st 1915 be set aside as a Day of Thanksgiving and Intercession throughout Britain and all other countries in the British Empire. The service was held to seek Divine intercession and aid for those on active military service in World War One and for the families of these men and women. This programme is of interest as the 1915 service would have been held in Methodist Churches throughout Victoria and Tasmania and this would have included the Warrnambool Methodist Church. World War One was a highly significant event in the history of Australia and Warrnambool, along with all other places in Australia, was affected deeply by the war with many young local people enlisting and many dying on active service.These are two sheets of paper folded in two to make eight pages. The pages contain a programme for the Methodist Church service in October 1915. The printing is in blue on a whitish/bluish background. The front cover is edged with blue lines. There is a blue stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the front cover. The programme has been stapled but the staples have been removed. methodist church, world war one

This book was given to Henry Huntingdon Smith in 1918 by a grateful sister of a soldier killed in World War One. Private Percy Palmer was listed as coming from the Warrnambool area even though his enlistment place was given as Bannockburn. H.H.Smith (1857-1941) is an important figure in Warrnambool’s history. He had a bakery business at the corner of Lava and Fairy Streets. He was a Warrnambool Councillor and Mayor, a Hospital Committee member for 39 years, a Methodist church office-bearer and an active worker for the welfare of local returned soldiers. It was said that he greeted every returning soldier at the Warrnambool Railway Station. Mrs Sharpe was one of those who benefited from his solicitude and kindness. This is book is of antiquarian interest but more importantly it is a lovely memento of Henry Smith’s untiring concern for local soldiers returning from World War One and for their family members. This is a hard cover book of 38 pages. The cover is blue with gold lettering and gold ornamentation on the front and back covers. There are two sepia-coloured photographs of Melbourne at the front of the book and two blue stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society at the front and the back of the book. The pages of the book have become detached from the binding. The inscription at the front of the book is handwritten in purple ink. ‘Melbourne, Aug. 28, 1918, To Mr H. Smith as a small token for kindness shown on behalf of my dear late brother, Private Percy Palmer from N. Sharpe.’ private percy palmer, world war one and warrnambool, henry huntingdon smith, warrnambool history

This book has been written by Alice Goldstraw in 1937. It is a fine history of life in the Naringal/Cudgee/Heytesbury Forest area at the end of the 19th century. There are accounts of the bushland, the school and the people in the area. Alice Goldstraw (d. 1967) was the daughter of George and Robina Goldstraw who were pioneer farmers in the Cudgee area. The Goldstraw families were prominent in the early history of Warrnambool and district, especially as timber millers and sawyers. This book is of considerable importance as it is a rare copy of ‘The Border of the Heytesbury’ written by Alice Goldstraw. It provides a wealth of material for researchers. An index to the book has been compiled by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This is a soft cover booklet of 34 pages. It has a buff-coloured cover with black printing and blue lines on the front cover. There is also a Warrnambool & District Historical Society stamp on the front cover. There are eleven chapters on ‘The Border of the Heytesbury’ and one chapter on ‘Some People in the Heytesbury’. The printed pages are divided into two columns. The pages have been stapled but the staples have been removed.history of cudgee/naringal/heytesbury forest area, history of warrnambool, alice goldstraw

A satchel used by students to carry their requirements to and fro between school and home. Typically it would contain lunch and a homework book generally a small exercise book which would contain the set work for the evening. They were sturdily and simply constructed so as to withstand the daily rigour of the school ground.A common object with which many people would identifyBrown leather satchel with gusset on either side. The surface has crocodile skin profile. Two leather straps with buckles on either side. The back has straps which are fastened with metal studs at the top and laced through slits at the bottom . The strap itself is joined with a buckle. One side has been restitched toward the bottom of the satchel.Four purple "Warrnambool and District Historical Society" stamps on the inside. The remnants of a name which is unreadable. "5620" in red on left hand side. A stamp *** leather and other details which are unreadable.warrnambool, school satchel, boys' leather satchel, school bags

Captain Bruce Bairnsfather was a British humourist and cartoonist. This booklet, Fragments from France contains a collection of his cartoons. The Fragments from France was extremely popular and sold hundreds of thousands of copies. The drawings display a wry humour of the terrible situation of the first world war. This item has strong historical artistic and social significance.Dark green soft card cover with black text. Illustration in black and white tones and white text is pasted on front cover. It shows two soldiers in dugout with explosions bursting around them.Advertisements inside front and back covers. 48 pages with monochrome illustrations with captions underneath each .Capt Bruce Bairnsfather. "To dear father from jean " written in black pen on first page. Two stamps Warrnambool and District Historical Society. Mussell & MacDonald newsagents & stationers Henty.warrnambool, fragments from france, captain bruce bairnsfather

This is a document signifying that the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2017 received a Victorian Collections Award for Excellence in Museum Cataloguing (Volunteer Staff). The award was given by Museums Australia (Victoria). The Warrnambool and District Historical Society continues to be an active contributor to the Victorian Collections web site. This item is of minor significance as a memento of a 2017 award given to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society and it now forms part of the group’s archives. This is a sheet of white paper with a background image of a tree branch and black printing. There are two signatures and the logos or lettering of 7 Victorian organizations.warrnambool & district historical society, victorian collections, museums australia (victoria)

This school text book, written by Dr William Davis, was one of several used by the Giles children at Wangoom State School. This arithmetic book has the name, ‘Henrietta Giles’. The Giles family lived on the Allansford Road. Wangoom State School, No. 645, was opened in 1865 on the Warrnambool/Wangoom Road as a Common School and became Wangoom State School after 1872. It is now closed. This book is of interest as an example of a 19th century arithmetic book (note that it has the caption, ‘for school and home use’). It is also of significance as a textbook used by the Giles family, early settlers in the Warrnambool area. This is a hard cover book of 114 pages. The cover is green-black with embossed lettering on the front cover (no longer fully decipherable). The pages are dog-eared and a couple of pages are splotched with ink. The cover is partly detached and very stained and the edges are torn away in some places. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink and there is scribble on some pages. There is a blue stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the first page. ‘Henrietta’ ‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Wangoom State School, No. 645’wangoom state school, history of warrnambool, giles family

This book of verses has been written by Ethel Lucy Newcombe (nee Forrester) The daughter of Lucy Sorrell and James William Forrester, she was born in 1874 in Warrnambool. As a Matriculated student she taught at the Warrnambool St. John’s Hall Private School for Girls in the 1890s. The proprietor of this school was her friend, Grace Newcombe and Ethel Forrester, especially talented in literature and music, composed a Cantata, ‘Austral’s Sunny Year’ for the annual school concert in 1898. In 1902 Ethel Forrester married Dr Frederick Newcombe (Grace’s brother), a medical missionary in India. His father Ebenezer Newcombe was well-known in Warrnambool as a timber and hardware businessman. Dr Frederick Newcombe died in India in 1905 and Ethel Newcombe spent the greater part of her later life in Melbourne. She died in 1971. The identity of Arthur, the recipient of the book, is not known. This book is of considerable interest because it was written by Ethel Newcombe who was born and educated in Warrnambool and the book is thus is associated with both the Forrester and the Newcombe families in Warrnambool early in the 20th century This is a soft cover book of 32 pages. The cover is dark orange in colour and has dark blue lettering on the front cover with ornamental scroll work on the left margin of the front cover. The book has three blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society and the inscription on the first page is handwritten in black ink. The book has been stapled with metal staples but the staples have been removed. ‘To Arthur, with the writer’s best wishes, Xmas 1941, Ethel L. Newcombe’ newcombe family, warrnambool, forrester family. warrnambool, st. john’s hall school, warrnambool, ethel newcombe, history of warrnambool, australian literature

This is the second edition of a book published originally in 1851. It is an early work concerned with the recording of aboriginal languages and was published in Geelong. The author, Daniel Bunce (1813-1872) was a botanist who went on journeys with aborigines in Victoria in 1839 and later in 1846 joined Ludwig Leichhardt’s second expedition in his attempt to cross Australia from east to west. This was unsuccessful. Bunce’s experiences in 1839 and in 1846 enabled him to write his book on aboriginal languages. In 1858 Bunce became the Director of the Geelong Botanic Gardens and designed and planted out the gardens. No information has been found on Noel Hallowill. This book is of antiquarian interest as an early dictionary of aboriginal languages and as a book written by the botanist, Daniel Bunce. This is a hard cover book of 60 pages. The cover is yellow with black lettering. There is an ornamental border around the printing. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society on the front cover and on the first page. The book is bound with brown tape. The book has a Preface, an Introduction and sections on the aboriginal languages in areas of Victoria and beyond. A copy of a letter from the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, is included at the end of the book. Stamp of ‘Noel Hallowill’ (name unclear) daniel bunce, aboriginal languages, ludwig leichhardt

‘Dawnings of Genius’ by the Rev. Theodore Alois Buckley contains chapters on the lives the many distinguished men in history. Our copy of this work was given to Jane McMeekin as a prize at the Koroit Street School some time in the 1870s. The Koroit Street School was a Denominational Board School opened by the Wesleyan Church in 1859 with William Nettleton as the Head Teacher. It was later known as Common School No. 673 and closed in 1876 when the Warrnambool State School in Jamieson Street was opened. There is no date to tell us when Jane McMeekin received this book but we know that Caleb Collyer, who married Ann Brown in 1869, was Head Teacher of Warrnambool Common School No. 673 in 1875. Jane Taggart McMeekin was born in Mepunga in 1864 to John and Isabella McMeekin. She may have been about ten or eleven when she received this prize. This book is of considerable interest as it was a school prize in the 1870s and concerns Jane McMeekin, Caleb Collyer and Common School No. 673 – all of relevance and importance in the history of education in Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 408 pages. It has a dark red leather cover with gold and black ornamentation and red lettering on a gold background. It has an introduction and thirty chapters on the lives of eminent men. It has many black and white illustrations. The cover is torn in places and somewhat stained and ragged around the edges. On the first page it has an inscription and a stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society. ‘Second Prize, Fifth Class Girls, Awarded to Jane McMeekin, Koroit Street School, No. 673, Warrnambool, C. Collyer, H. Teacher.’ warrnambool common school 673, caleb collyer, jane mcmeekin, history of warrnambool, schools in warrnambool