Pattison Collection 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 1942 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. 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. 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. White Ladies Author: Francis Brett Young Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd Date: 1935 The label on the spine with the typed text PAT FIC YOU Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book, white ladies, francis brett young, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, 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

Ladies white leather high-heeled sandals with decorative wide strap across the toe, and thin straps around the ankle. Stored in a shoe boxMarci Dani. Elegance in Fashion shoes, footwear, ladies, sandal, high-heels

Ladies white and silver, "reptile-patterned" high heeled shoes, with thin straps across toe and around ankle. Clear plastic across toe strap to make it wider. Pierre Fontaineshoes, footwear, ladies, high-heeled,

Ladies white woven cotton fabric hat. Simple bowler hat shape with 4cm turned up brim. White stain ribbon around crown of hat (6cm) ending in a single bow at the back.costume accessories, female, white woven cotton fabric hat

Black and white photograph of two ladies in a Hotel garden.photograph, person, female

One pair of ladies white nylon wrist length gloves. 3 cm slit inside at wrist. Embroidered leaf pattern around wrist.Label inside LH glove; ''DENTS All Nylon Made in Hong Kong''.costume accessories, female, ladies short white gloves

One pair of ladies white nylon wrist length gloves. 1 cm fold over tab at centre wrist on back of glove with small fabric rosette stitched on tab.Lable inside LH glove, ''Nylon Simplex Size 6 1/2. Made in Hong Kong''>costume accessories, female, ladies short white nylon gloves

Clothing. White cotton detachable ladies collar. Band along bottom edge has three button holes. Old box 573.Written on collar, ''Try One Like This G'ders Conference'' (pencil), ''M.E.BUSH'' (pen)costume accessories, female, white cotton ladies collar

This pair of ladies white kid gloves once belonged to Mrs W N Barnard of Portland, c. 1910.These kid gloves are representative of ladies fashion of the early 1900sA pair of lady's long white kid gloves. Two button closures at the wrist of each glove. Hems are machined, and buttonholes and edging are hand-finished. Circa 1910.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mrs w.n. barnard, w.n. barnard of portland victoria, ladies fashion c. 1910, ladies fashion accessory c. 1910, ladies white kid gloves c. 1910

In a black frame is a black and white photograph of two ladies farewelling troops on a ship. Both ladies have their backs to the camera and the lady on the right has her right ankle bandaged and is leaning on a wooden crutch. There are several troops looking towards the ladies. 1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- australia, 1961 - 1975, embarkation - australian, 1961-1975 - participation - australian, photograph

White cotton full length long sleeved ladies nightgown. Front yoke of lace panels with diagonal patterns and gathered lace edges. Gathered lace frill around neckline (5cm). Fabric yoke at back with gathered back panel. Set in sleeves with 5cm lace edge at hem. Decorative lace insert above lace edge. Front opening with two white buttons.''A.Chafer'' wriitten in texta on inside back of yoke.costume, female, white ladies nightgown

"After the war Pipe-Major Duncan McLennan, moved to Ballarat and took up a position as cadet instructor and leader of the Ballarat Highland Pipe Band and the Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band. " (Victorian Historical Journal Vol. 85, No. 1, June 2014)Black and White photograph of Ballarat Ladies' Highland Pipe Band marching.On the back owner has written, Ballarat City Oval. Pipe Band Competitions. Judges McLennan - Pipes, W/CMD Slight - CO of RAAF Camp Ballarat, F/LT Gleghorn - RAAFpipe band, ballarat, ladies, ladies pipe band, highland pipe band, photograph, black and white photograph, ballarat ladies' highland pipe band

"After the war Pipe-Major Duncan McLennan, moved to Ballarat and took up a position as cadet instructor and leader of the Ballarat Highland Pipe Band and the Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band. " (Victorian Historical Journal Vol. 85, No. 1, June 2014)Photocopy of black and white photograph of Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band, with names.pipe band, ballarat, ladies, ladies pipe band, highland pipe band, photograph, black and white photograph, ballarat ladies' highland pipe band

White ladies crepe blouse. Circa 1950 flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

One pair of ladies elbow length white cotton gloves, External side seam and seams on fingers. Three pintucks on back of gloves. # cms elastic gathering at wrist or palm side of glove. No labels.costume accessories, female, ladies long white cotton gloves

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO x 5 -male and female / mounted on cardboardphotograph, person, male / female

A black and white photograph of two ladies standing on a timber bridge crossing the Taggerty River.A black and white photograph of two ladies standing on a timber bridge crossing the Taggerty River.taggerty river, timber bridge

2 white ladies panama hats 9046.1 Hat has black ribbon 9046.2 Hat has blue ribbon

Clothing. Shaped gathered 'bra-like' bodice, joins a peak midriff panel. 1.3 cm satin ribbon straps over the shoulders. Skirt is permanently pleated nylon with a 10 cm deep woven lace edging, woven into the fabric. A 3 cm wide band of nylon lace insert, outlines the top front of the bodice.costume, female, ladies white nylon nightie

Made from pillowslips - dating from 1880, from Mrs. D.H. Adamson.White cotton ladies combination with lace on neckline, sleeves and hem. combinations, underwear

Trousseau of Mrs. A. Mitchell (1877)White long ladies nightgown, with broderie anglaise front at yoke, and on long sleeves.nightdresses, nightwear

Thank you gift to guests at Mayoral Dinner held by then Mayor, Jessie McCallum.White cotton ladies handkerchief with gold inscription printed on it. Enclosed in a white folded card.City of Whitehorse Mayoral Dinner Friday 4 August 2000costume accessories, female, civic mementoes, souvenirs

These garments were made by Evelyn Carfrae's grandmother for her trousseau around 1890. Evelyn Carfrae was a long time volunteer in O.Gilpins Store at Coal Creek.9056.1 Ladies long white nightdress with lace trimmed collar 9056.2 Ladies white mid calf length crotch less undergarment 9056.3 Ladies white calf length undergarment with drop down panel in front

Fine white linen ladies handkerchief with embroidery in corner. 15mm hand stiched border on all sides.Nil.handkerchief

Made by Mrs. W. J. Sebire nee Esther Cook (Lilydale). Made for her trousseau (1897)White cotton ladies nightgown with long sleeves. Broderie anglaise on collar and cuffs and has pin tucking on the front.nightdresses, nightwear