This book contains the Constitutions of the Freemason Lodges in Victoria. Freemasonry is a world-wide benefit society. Moves were made in the 1860s to establish a Masonic Lodge in Warrnambool with the first Lodge being St. John’s (No. 895). The Masonic Hall in Kepler Street was built in 1870. This book belonged to a member of the Flaxman family and John Flaxman was a prominent Warrnambool resident in the 19th century – an insurance agent and moneylender in the 1860 and 70s and an employee of the auctioneer, Samuel Macgregor. The book, however, seems to belong to a W. Flaxman. John Flaxman had a brother William but, as far as can be ascertained, he did not live in Warrnambool. There is nothing known so far to link this book with Warrnaambool but it is kept because of the name ‘Flaxman’ and so it may have some relevance.This is hard cover book of 142 pages. The cover is blue with gold lettering on the front cover. The cover is slightly marked. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in black ink. ‘Br W.S.B.J.Flaxman 24-2-25’ william flaxman, freemasonry in warrnambool

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. An Elementary Manual of Roman Antiquities Author: William Ramsay Publisher: Charles Griffin and Company Date: 1871Label on spine cover with typed text RH 937 RAM Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service This book as a hand written name that reads "Fred. C. Flaxman, High School Glasgow. Oct. 1874" warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, fred. c. flaxman, an elementary manual of roman antiquities, william ramsay

This is the program of a concert held at Price’s Exchange Hall in Warrnambool in December, 1867. The concert was under the management of the Warrnambool Anglican Minister, Archdeacon T. P. Beamish and the proceeds were in aid of the Warrnambool Church of England Common School. The programme was printed on silk at the office of the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper. This paper was founded in 1851 by a pioneer settler in Warrnambool, Richard Osburne and it was leased by Henry Laurie and William Fairfax from 1867 to 1872; these latter two became the founders of the Warrnambool Standard (1872 to the present day) and were the printers of this program. There were 26 musical items, a recitation by John Flaxman and a ten minute interval. Three of the performers at this concert were well-known in Warrnambool for their musical talents – singer, William Fairfax, noted above, singer Sarah Welchman (also the proprietor of a private school for girls) and singer Mrs Steedman (also the proprietor of a girls’ private school in Warrnambool). The Warrnambool Church of England Common School (number 661) was established in Warrnambool as a Government-subsidized denominational school in 1860 and closed in 1876 when the Jamieson Street Warrnambool State School (SS1743) opened. Archdeacon Peter Beamish, the sponsor of the concert, was the Anglican Minister in Warrnambool from 1850 to 1895. Price’s Exchange Hall was part of a Temperance Hotel opened in Liebig Street in 1861 by Richard Wrench. In the 1860s Thomas Price opened the Royal Exchange Hotel on these premises and his Exchange Hall was the largest hall in Warrnambool at that time. This is a most significant item because:- 1. It is a rare example of a 19th century programme printed on silk 2. The listed concert programme is a good example of the type of entertainment held in Warrnambool in the 1860s 3. Some of the participants in the concert were well-known entertainers in Warrnambool in the 1860s – Fairfax, Steedman, Welchman 4. The programme is one of the few mementoes we hold of the Church of England Common School 5. Other people important in Warrnambool’s history are connected to this item – Archdeacon Beamish, Fairfax and Laurie of the Warrnambool Standard and Thomas Price and his Royal Exchange Hotel Hall. This is a programme printed on silk. The sheet has a decorative border, black printing and an image of musical instruments and music scores. The programme has frayed edges.Church of England Common School Grand Amateur Concert Wednesday 4th December 1867 Price’s Exchange Hall, Warrnambool royal exchange hotel, liebig street, warrnambool, archdeacon beamish, warrnambool, fairfax and laurie, warrnambool examiner, church of england common school 661, warrnambool, william fairfax, sarah welchman, mrs steedman, dr mckenzie, william chambers, henry chambers, john fairfax