William Ward 1820- 1908 was born in Norfolk and emigrated with his wife Ann Ostler aboard the SS Kent in 1853. The voyage took 77days. William Ward JP was a prominent figure in East Brighton . William was elected to the Moorabbin Road Board in 1863, JP at Cheltenham Court, and Shire President 1875-82. He was appointed Post Master at East Brighton in 1865 and held the position until his death in 1908. William's Municipal career extended over 30 years and the 'Southern Cross Newspaper Brighton paid him tribute in the obituary January 25th 1908. William and Anne Ward had 10 children but only 5 survived. Elizabeth Emma Ward 1963- 1921, their eldest child, married Henry Box 1839-1913 and they had 9 children but 2 died in infancy. Henry Box purchased land in Tucker Road East Brighton (Bentleigh) 1870 to establish a market garden . He continued to purchase property through out his life and when he died owned land in East Boundary Road, Elsternwick, and Murrumbeena.William Ward JP was a prominent figure in East Brighton, William was elected to the Moorabbin District Road Board in 1863, JP at Cheltenham Court, and Shire President 1875-82. He was appointed Post Master at East Brighton in 1865 and held the position until his death in 1908. William's Municipal career extended over 30 years and the 'Southern Cross Newspaper Brighton paid him tribute in the obituary January 25th 1908.A black and white photograph of William Ward JP, Councillor who was the father of Elizabeth Emma Ward the wife of Henry Box.nil

Ward & Lock's Shilling Library of Famous Books for all Time. A reprint of the original edition of 1829-30. Advice to young men and (incidentally) to young women in the middle and higher ranks of life: in a series of letters addressed to a youth, a bachelor, a lover, a husband, a father, a citizen, or a subject. With notes and a life of the author.Red cloth-bound hardcover book. Hinges loose. Foxing to front & back pages. 232 pp. Fair condition. Undated.Inside flyleaf, '1900', underlined twice.social history, advice, whitburgh cottage collection

The photograph taken on Sunday September 6, 1891, shows the Port Campbell Rocket Rescue Crew and Equipment at Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, preparing to save the stranded men on the wreck of the barque Fiji. The man standing in the middle, front of the photograph, facing the ocean, is Herbert Maxwell Morris, a farmer at Barruppa near Princetown, also a member of the Rocket Rescue Crew. The Rocket Rescue lifesaving method used an explosive rocket to shoot a light line from shore across to the distressed vessel. The line was then secured to the ship’s mast and a heavy, continuous line was then sent out with a ‘breaches buoy’ attached (a buoy similar to the seat of a pair of trousers). The stranded seafarers would sit in the seat and be pulled along the line to safety. A lot of skill was needed to set up the line to reach its target and the Crew trained regularly to keep up their skills. The three-masted iron barque Fiji was built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1875 by Harland and Wolfe for a Liverpool based shipping company. The ship departed Hamburg on May 22, 1891, bound for Melbourne under the command of Captain William Vickers with a crew of 25. The Cape Otway light was sighted on September 5, 1891. However, the bearing was different from Captain Vickers’ calculations. At about 2:30am the next morning land was reported only 4-5 miles away. The captain tried to redirect the ship in the rough weather without success and the Fiji struck rock only 300 yards (274 metres) from shore. The crew burned blue lights fired rockets to signal distress. The lifeboats either capsized or were swamped and smashed to pieces. Two younger crewmen volunteered to swim for the shore with a line. One, a Russian named Daniel Carkland, drowned after he was swept away when the line broke. The other, Julius Gebauhr, a 17 year old German able seaman, reached shore safely on his second attempt but had cut the line lose with his sheath-knife when it tangled in kelp. He climbed the steep cliffs in search of help. Later that morning a young man, William (Willie) Ward, saw the wreck of the ship close to shore near Moonlight Head from the cliffs and the alarm sent for help from Princetown, six miles away. At around the same time a Mott’s party of land selectors, including F. J. Stansmore, Leslie Dickson, was travelling on horseback from Princetown towards Moonlight Head. They were near Ryans Den when they found Gebauhr in the scrub, bleeding and dressed only in singlet, socks and a belt with his sheath-knife. They thought the man may be an escaped lunatic, due to his wild and shaggy looking state and what seemed to be gibberish speech. After Gebauhr threw his knife away they realised that he was speaking half-English, half-German as he talked about the wreck. They gave him food, brandy and clothing, and he was taken to a nearby guest house Rivernook, owned by John Evans, where he was cared for. Most of the party went off to the wreck site. Stanmore and Dickson rode for help from both Port Campbell for the two Rocket Rescue Crew buggies, and Warrnambool for the lifeboat. The vessel S.S. Casino sailed from Portland towards the scene. Half of the Port Campbell Rocket Crew and equipment arrived after a 25 mile journey and set up the rocket tripod on the beach below the cliffs. By this time the weary crew of the Fiji had been clinging to the jib-boom for almost 15 hours, calling frantically for help. The Office in Charge of the Rocket Crew, W. Tregear, ordered the rocket to be fired but the light line broke and the rocket was carried away. A second line, successfully set up by Herbert Morris, crossed the ship and was secured. The anxious sailors tried to come ashore along the line but some were washed off as the line sagged with too many on it at one time. Other nearly exhausted crewmen made their way through masses of seaweed and were often smothered by waves. Only 14 of the 24 who had remained on the ship made it to shore. Rocket Crew members and onlookers on the beach took it in turns to go into the surf and drag the half-drowned seamen to safety. These rescuers included Bill (William James) Robe, Herbert Morris, Edwin Vinge, Hugh Cameron, Fenelon Mott, Arthur Wilkinson and Peter Carmody, who was also involved in the rescue of men from the Newfield. Arthur Wilkinson, a 29 year old land selector, swam out to help one of the ship’s crewmen, a carpenter named John Plunken who was trying to swim from the Fiji to the shore. Two or three times both men almost reached the shore but were washed back to the wreck where they were both hauled back on board. Wilkinson was unconscious, possibly from hitting his head on the anchor before they were brought up. Plunken survived but Wilkinson later died and his body was washed up the next day. The 26 year old Bill Robe hauled out the last man; it was the captain and he’d been tangled in the kelp. Only 20 minutes later the wreck of the Fiji was smashed apart and it settled in about 6m of water. Of the 26 men on the Fiji, 11 in total lost their lives. The remains of 7 bodies were washed onto the beach. Their coffins were made from timbers from the wrecked Fiji and they were buried on the cliff top above the wreck. The survivors were taken to Rivernook and cared for over the next few days. Funds were raised by locals soon after the wreck in aid of the sufferers of the Fiji disaster. Captain Vickers was severely reprimanded for his mishandling of the ship. His Masters Certificate was suspended for 12 months. There was public criticism of the rescue. The important canvas ‘breeches buoy’ and heavy line for the Rocket Rescue was in the half of the rocket outfit that didn’t make it in time for the rescue as they had been delayed at the Gellibrand River ferry. The communications to Warrnambool were down so the call for help didn’t get through on time. The boat that had been notified of the wreck failed to reach it in time. Much cargo looting occurred. One looter was caught with a small load of red and white rubber balls. Essence of peppermint mysteriously turned up in many settlers homes. Sailcloth was salvaged and used for horse rugs and tent flies. Soon after the wreck “Fiji tobacco” was being advertised around Victoria. A Customs officer, trying to prevent some of the looting, was assaulted by looters and thrown over a steep cliff. He managed to cling to a bush lower down until rescued. In 1894 some coiled fencing wire was salvaged from the wreck. Hundreds of coils are still strewn over the site of the wreck, encrusted and solidified. The hull is broken but the vessel’s iron ribs can be seen along with some of the cargo of concrete and pig iron. Captain Vickers presented Bill Robe with his silver-cased pocket watch, the only possession that he still had, as a token for having saved his life and the lives of some of the crew. Years later Bill used the pocket watch to pay a debt, and it was handed down through that family. Seaman Julius Gebauhr later gave his knife, in its hand crafted leather sheath, to F. J. Stansmore for caring for him when he came ashore. The knife handle had a personal inscription on it. A marble headstone on the cliffs overlooking Wreck Beach pays tribute to the men who lost their lives when Fiji ran aground. The scene of the wreck is marked by the anchor from the Fiji, erected by Warrnambool skin divers in 1967. Captain Vickers’ pocket watch and Julius Gebauhr’s sheath knife are amongst the artefacts salvaged from the Fiji that are now part of the Fiji collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The man identified in the photograph, Herbert Maxwell Morris, was the nephew of the Victorian era artist, William Morris. Herbert had sailed from England to Australia and was about 25 years old when he joined the Rocket Rescue Crew at Port Campbell. His successful rocket line firing at the Fiji wreck site was noted by author Jack Loney in one of his historic shipwreck books. Later Morris moved from his property at Baruppa to Laver’s Hill to run a more profitable enterprise. This photograph is significant as an image of a historical event, being the willingness of local volunteers to aid in the saving of lives of stranded seafarers. It gives a clear picture of the use of Rocket Rescue Equipment in shore-to-ship rescues. Flagstaff Hill’s Fiji collection is of historical significance at a State level because of its association with the wreck Fiji, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S259. The Fiji is archaeologically significant as the wreck of a typical 19th century international sailing ship with cargo. It is educationally and recreationally significant as one of Victoria's most spectacular historic shipwreck dive sites with structural features and remains of the cargo evident. It also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes. The Fiji collection meets the following criteria for assessment; Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history, possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history, and potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. Black and white photograph. Subject is the Rocket Rescue Crew from Pt Campbell on Wreck Beach, Moonlight Head, at the wreck site of the barque 'Fiji'. September 6, 1891.warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, pocket watch, fob watch fiji, william vickers, william robe, bill robe, gebauhr, stansmore, carmody, wreck bay, moonlight head, fiji shipwreck 1891, rocket crew, port campbell rocket crew, lifesaving crew, photograph of rocket crew, herbert morris, warrnambool, shipwreck artefact, mott, william ward, rocket rescue, breeches buoy, rivernook guest house

A Bi-Centennial Dress Pattern 0001 made by Lindie Ward for Power House Museum . It is a copy of a dress belonging to Isobel Hovell, the wife of the explorer William Hovell. Isobel died 1837. The original dress was made from yellow, satin -striped, cotton voile, printed with sprigs of flowers in lilac and greenThis Dress Pattern was made for the Bi-Centennial Celebrations at Power House Museum, Sydney in 1988c1988 A large paper envelope with printed design of dress c1837. Dressmaking tissue pattern pieces for dress are enclosed and a measurement scale is on the backFront of packet : BICENTENNIAL DRESS PATTERN / POWERHOUSE / 0001dressmaking, craft equipment, dress patterns, craftwork, sewing, hovell isobel, hovell william, ward lindie, bi-centennial celebrations, melbourne, moorabbin, victoria, new south wales, market gardneres, power house museum

A book titled ' The Life of Homer. The Poet of the Heroic World.' Published London: Ward, Lock & Co., Salisbury Square, E.C. 753 - 768 pgs. This booklet is one of a series of 53 ' Ward & Lock's Penny Books for the People.' ' Biographical Series.' Price one penny. There are also advertisements of note.books, biography, homer, lydia chancellor, collection, the life of homer, shakespeare, william shakespeare, ward & lock's penny books for the people, ward & lock's penny historical series, penny books, biographical series, poetry, literature, the illiad, the odyssey, greek legends, greece - history, famous people, male, advertisements, ward, lock & co. biographical sketches, ward, lock & co. biographical series

This book, a sequel to ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’ by Henry Frith, was a prize given to Frank Ward in 1901. His school, the Warrnambool Academy, was established in 1899 by Richard Lawson and William Oakley and was eventually situated at ‘Upton’ in Canterbury Road, Warrnambool. The Academy later incorporated the former Scott’s Warrnambool College and Stanley’s Warrnambool Grammar School. This private school closed in 1911. William Oakley later joined the Victorian Education Department and Richard Lawson had a distinguished academic career in teacher education in Melbourne and New Zealand. No details are available on Frank Ward. This is a hard cover book of 295 pages. The cover is dark blue with gold printing and ornamental gold borders on the front cover and spine. The book has an introductory chapter, 28 chapters of story and an Epilogue. In the back pages there are lists of other books published by Ward, Lock and Co. The book contains many black and white illustrations. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society and on the first page a flyleaf from the Warrnambool Academy printed with gold print and borders and with handwriting in black ink. The cover is slightly faded and marked. ‘Warrnambool Academy, Labore et Fide, First Prize awarded to Frank Ward for Latin, Principals, Richard Lawson M.A. & W.M. Oakley. 17/12/1901’ warrnambool academy, richard lawson, william oakley, frank ward, history of 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 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. 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 Account of The Manners and Customs of The Modern Egyptians Author: Edward William Lane Publisher: Ward, Lock & Bowden Ltd Date: 1842Label on spine with typed text PAT 962.03 LAN Inside front cover has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, pattison collection, warrnambool library, ralph eric pattison, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, edward william lane, an account of the manners and customs of the modern egyptians

Elizabeth Avis- Box 1835-1914 was born in Sussex, married William Box in 1854 and arrived in Melbourne in 1855. William’s parents George and Mary Box and his siblings sailed with them. William & Elizabeth at first leased land in the area of the ‘Dendy Special Survey Brighton 1841’ and then purchased the property with the pioneer cottage 1868 & 1869. William & Elizabeth established a market garden and raised 13 children. 1888 they built a larger 2nd house in front of the original cottage. William died in 1902 and Mary sold 9acres in 1908 to W. .Snowden Anderson – it later became Joyce Park where the reconstructed Box Cottage Museum now stands. After Elizabeth died her daughters Ada and Violet lived on the 1acre property until 1917 when August Reitman, a potter and monumental mason, leased the house and land. He established his pottery business and purchased the property in 1935. The business moved in 1953 but continued to use the cottage as a workshop/ storeroom until it was sold to Lewis Timber P/L in 1970 Elizabeth & William Box settled in the pioneer Cottage in Jasper Road East Brighton 1868 and established a market garden whilst raising their 13 children. This Cottage was reconstructed in Joyce Park, Ormond 1984 and is the home of City of Moorabbin Historical Society. In 1960 many local residents responded to a call for the donation of historical artefacts and the Box Cottage Museum now preserves this eclectic collection for the community. A certified true copy of the Death Certificate of Elizabeth Avis- Box 1835 -1914 in a wooden picture frame, obtained from The Births, Deaths and Marriages Office Melbourne Victoria 18/6/1985 THIRD SCHEDULE / DEATHS in the District of East Brighton in the State of Victoria Registered by George William Ward / Dated 1914 / 1st July 1914 Jasper Rd Bentleigh Shire of Moorabbin County of Bourke / Elizabeth Box / Home duties/ …… Dr A T Joyce Certified ‘true copy of an entry in a register’……… Signed by Paul Kenny Registration Officer 18 June 1985 box elizabeth avis, box william, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, ormond, pioneers, market gardeners, brighton cemetery, box george, box mary cripps, reitman august, anderson w. snowden, joyce park ormond, box cottage museum dendy’s special survey brighton 1841,

Websters Pocket Pronouncing Dictionary by William G Webster Publisher Ward Lock & Bowden Date 1850flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, websters pocket pronouncing dictionary, book, william g webster

Henry Box ,who was born in Withyham in 1839 , was the 3rd son of George and Mary Cripps Box and came to Australia in 1856 with the family. Henry paid his own fare so was not ‘bound’ to any employer. Henry helped his brother William establish his market garden on the site of Box Cottage, Jasper Road 1865 and by 1970 was purchasing property in East Brighton (Bentleigh.). He continued to purchase land, which he rent / leased to family members, and at his death owned property in East Boundary Road, Murrumbeena and Elsternwick. Henry married Elizabeth ‘Emma’ Ward in 1868 and they had 9 children but 2 died in infancy. ‘ Emma’ was the daughter of William Ward 1820- 1908 who was born in Norfolk and emigrated with his wife Ann Ostler in 1853. William Ward JP was a prominent figure in East Brighton . William was elected to the Moorabbin Road Board in 1863, JP at Cheltenham Court, and Shire President 1875-82. He was appointed Post Master at East Brighton in 1865 and held the position until his death in 1908 Henry was a member of the Court Pride of St George AOF, and a lay preacher at the Bentleigh Baptist Church.. Surviving Children were - Caroline Alma Box 1863-1943, Mary Anne Box 1865- ?, Lydia Elizabeth Box 1867- 1957, William Henry Box 1869- 1945, Emma Elizabeth Ellen Box 1875 – 1964, Olivia Christina ‘Chrissie’ Box 1878 – 1963, Archibald Ward Box 1882 -? Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Henry Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He purchased property and helped the family establish market gardens in East Brighton (Bentleigh). Henry and his wife Elizabeth Emma Ward Box had 9 children, Henry was a lay preacher for the Baptist Church Bentleigh. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of a young woman who may be Elizabeth Emma Ward 1863 - 1921,the wife of Henry Box.1839-1913Stewart & Co ' Coat of Arms" Melbourne

WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and it's Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items has become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850’s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. 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. From Log-Cabin To White House Author: William Thayer Publisher: Ward Lock & Co Further Information: The Warrnambool Public Library date July 1946. Life of James A. Garfield. Boyhood, Youth, Manhood, Assassination 20th President of the U.S.A. The label on spine cover has typed text R.H. 923.1 GAR flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, from log-cabin to white house, william thayer, james a. garfield, 20th president of united state of america

Henry Box ,who was born in Withyham in 1839 , was the 3rd son of George and Mary Cripps Box and came to Australia in 1856 with the family. Henry paid his own fare so was not ‘bound’ to any employer. Henry helped his brother William establish his market garden on the site of Box Cottage, Jasper Road 1865 and by 1870 was purchasing property in East Brighton (Bentleigh.). He continued to purchase land, which he rent / leased to family members, and at his death in 1913 owned property in East Boundary Road, Murrumbeena and Elsternwick. Henry married Elizabeth ‘Emma’ Ward in 1868 and they had 9 children but 2 died in infancy. ‘ Emma’ was the daughter of William Ward 1820- 1908 who was born in Norfolk and emigrated with his wife Ann Ostler in 1853. Henry was a member of the Court Pride of St George AOF, and a lay preacher at the Bentleigh Baptist Church.. Surviving Children were - Caroline Alma Box 1863-1943, Mary Anne Box 1865- ?, Lydia Elizabeth Box 1867- 1957, William Henry Box 1869- 1945, Emma Elizabeth Ellen Box 1875 – 1964, Olivia Christina ‘Chrissie’ Box 1878 – 1963, Archibald Ward Box 1882 -? Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Henry Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He purchased property and helped the family establish market gardens in East Brighton (Bentleigh). Henry and his wife Elizabeth Emma Ward Box had 9 children, Henry was a lay preacher for the Baptist Church Bentleigh. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of a young girl and boy who may be 2 of the surviving 7 children of Henry Box 1839 -1913Goulter Prahran

Henry Box ,who was born in Withyham in 1839 , was the 3rd son of George and Mary Cripps Box and came to Australia in 1856 with the family. Henry paid his own fare so was not ‘bound’ to any employer. Henry helped his brother William establish his market garden on the site of Box Cottage, Jasper Road 1865 and by 1970 was purchasing property in East Brighton (Bentleigh.). He continued to purchase land, which he rent / leased to family members, and at his death owned property in East Boundary Road, Murrumbeena and Elsternwick. Henry married Elizabeth ‘Emma’ Ward in 1868 and they had 9 children but 2 died in infancy. ‘ Emma’ was the daughter of William Ward 1820- 1908 who was born in Norfolk and emigrated with his wife Ann Ostler in 1853. Henry was a member of the Court Pride of St George AOF, and a lay preacher at the Bentleigh Baptist Church.. Surviving Children were - Caroline Alma Box 1863-1943, Mary Anne Box 1865- ?, Lydia Elizabeth Box 1867- 1957, William Henry Box 1869- 1945, Emma Elizabeth Ellen Box 1875 – 1964, Olivia Christina ‘Chrissie’ Box 1878 – 1963, Archibald Ward Box 1882 -? Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Henry Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He purchased property and helped the family establish market gardens in East Brighton (Bentleigh). Henry and his wife Elizabeth Emma Ward Box had 9 children, Henry was a lay preacher for the Baptist Church Bentleigh. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of Henry Box 1839 - 1913Bensen & Stevenson Photos / 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne/ COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME

Henry Box ,who was born in Withyham, Sussex in 1839 , was the 3rd son of George and Mary Cripps Box and came to Australia in 1856 with the family. Henry paid his own fare so was not ‘bound’ to any employer. Henry helped his brother William establish his market garden on the site of Box Cottage, Jasper Road 1865 and by 1970 was purchasing property in East Brighton (Bentleigh.). He continued to purchase land, which he rent / leased to family members, and at his death in 1913 owned property in East Boundary Road, Murrumbeena and Elsternwick. Henry married Elizabeth ‘Emma’ Ward in 1868 and they had 9 children but 2 died in infancy. ‘ Emma’ was the daughter of William Ward 1820- 1908 who was born in Norfolk and emigrated with his wife Ann Ostler in 1853. Henry was a member of the Court Pride of St George AOF, and a lay preacher at the Bentleigh Baptist Church.. Surviving Children were - Caroline Alma Box 1863-1943, Mary Anne Box 1865- ?, Lydia Elizabeth Box 1867- 1957, William Henry Box 1869- 1945, Emma Elizabeth Ellen Box 1875 – 1964, Olivia Christina ‘Chrissie’ Box 1878 – 1963, Archibald Ward Box 1882 -? Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Henry Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He purchased property and helped the family establish market gardens in East Brighton (Bentleigh). Henry and his wife Elizabeth Emma Ward Box had 9 children, Henry was a lay preacher for the Baptist Church Bentleigh. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of a boy who could be a son of Henry Box 1839 -1913BENSEN & STEVENSON PHOTOS / 108 Elizabeth Street Melbourne/ COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME

Alexander Peacock and Millie Holden married on January 1st 1901 the day of Australian Federation. The names listed on the illuminated address were all prominent men in the Borough and Shire of Creswick. John English, John Leishman, Jonah Ward, William Thomas, W. Davies, J. Tait, H. Hammon, D. Luttet, L.D. Watson, D. McGarth, G. Maughan, Illuminated address to Hon. A.J. Peacock, Chief Secretary of Victoria. It has cameos of Creswick Town Hall, Peacock's home, Creswick Goldfields Hospital and gold mine. It has portraits of both Alexander Peacock and Millie Holden as printed on the announcement of their engagement. The address is signed by prominent citizens of Creswick.alexander peacock, millie holden, millie peacock, creswick

This portrait was presented by the Victorian Bar to the Library in 1917 to commemorate Schutt’s fifty years as the Supreme Court Librarian. The portrait was presented at a ceremony presided over by Mr Mitchell KC who noted the “unanimity with which the members of the profession had adopted the suggestion that the eminent services of Mr Schutt should be recognised in this way.” Chief Justice Madden also spoke on this occasion and there were a number of judges and members of the legal profession present. John Schutt had been born in England in 1831 and migrated to Victoria as a young man, initially working as a school teacher he was appointed librarian, during Redmond Barry’s time in 1866. He started work in the Old Court in Russell street and would have supervised the move of the library to its new and greatly expanded premises in William Street in 1884. As well as secretary to the Library committee, he also acted as the Secretary of the Board of Examiners on occasion. After his death in 1919 in its obituary, the Williamstown Chronicle noted that Schutt was regarded as a Solon, an ancient greek law giver who gave wise advice. Away from the Court he was a councillor of many years standing in Williamstown, representing the Victoria Ward, what is now the suburb of Newport, it would appear Schutt street in Newport was named after him. His eldest son William Schutt was appointed a Supreme Court judge in 1919. The portrait of Schutt is a companion piece to the Sir Thomas a’Beckett picture painted shortly before the Schutt portrait and for the same client, they share the same frame design with gum leaf motif. This portrait was undertaken early in Meldrum’s career and before he had fully developed his theory of painting. Duncan Max Meldrum (1875-1955) was a controversial figure in his later years as he strongly opposed modernism and non-figurative art. His works are found in most of the state galleries, including a wide selection at the National Gallery of Victoria. This portrait is of interest for whom it portrays and as the work of a well known artistFull length portrait in oils of John Schutt. Schutt is standing up looking out the to the viewer. His hand rests on a small pile of books. He is dressed soberly in a three piece black suit. His white beard and hair all meticulously trimmed and realised. The props used in this painting provide the main colour as the background has become dark over the years. The books sit atop of a red and gold draped table. Behind Schutt is what appears to be a crimson velvet chair and he gives every appearence of having just arisen from the chair to engage with the viewer. The painting has an unusual light source at the foot of the painting with Schutt's legs providing shadows. Signed Meldrum lower right hand corner. Plaque inscription is John Schutt, Esq. Supreme Court Librarian

Tait collection: item 19 of 62 This is an 1899 document giving Will and Probate details of William Cox who died in Warrnambool in March 1899. He was a farmer residing in Moore Street Warrnambool at the time of his death at the age of 83. He left real estate to the value of £425 and personal estate to the value of £412 to Gwenllian Williams who may have been his sister or niece. A Mr and Mrs Williams were also living in the Moore Street house at the time of Cox’s death. His executors were Thomas Goodall, a law clerk who managed the office of the lawyer Ernest Chambers in Warrnambool and John Ward, a pioneer settler in Warrnambool and a shopkeeper in Jamieson Street in 1899. No other details are available on William Cox. This is an interesting document as it gives details of the Will and Probate belonging to a local Warrnambool person, William Cox. The lawyer dealing with the document was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document has been passed on to successive lawyers occupying legal chambers in the Kepler Street building and that is where the document was held until passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014.This is an 1899 piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on three sides of the paper. The seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with blue ribbon and there are two stamps, one blue one of the Colonial Bank in Warrnambool and the other a red one of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The writing is very clear but the pages are a little stained.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of William Cox late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceased; Probate; I certify there is no duty payable on this probate (signature) Officer under Section 96 of act No 106; E J W Chambers Warrnambool Proctors for the Executorswilliam cox, ernest chambers, john ward, thomas goodall, tait collection

This book was one of several independent publications dealing with Australian and Pacific topics. The author, J. Alex. Allan, was a Councillor with the Historical Society of Victoria. The book is less important than the inscription on the first page which indicates that the book was a gift from the staff of Warrnambool High School to William L. Grauer, a teacher who was leaving the school in 1946. Mr Grauer, born in Warrnambool in 1915, became Supervisor of School Forestry in 1968 and served in in the Australian Army and Air Force in World War Two. The Grauers were a prominent early family in the Allansford area and descendants still live today in Allansford and Warrnambool. Warrnambool High School opened in 1907 as the Warrnambool Agricultural High School and merged with Warrnambool North Technical School in 1994 to become Warrnambool College. This book is of interest as it was given as a farewell gift to a member of the Warrnambool High School staff in 1946 and contains the signatures of ten fellow teachers, including the Headmaster, Roy Andrews. The recipient of the book, William Grauer, was a member of a prominent family in the Allansford area.This is a hard- cover book (Social and Economic Sketch of Victorian History) of 172 pages. It has a plain dark red leather cover with a buff-coloured strip pasted on the spine. It is by J. Alex. Allan and was printed in 1945. There are 19 chapters and an Epilogue. There are several pages of black and white photographs. Spine: ‘Cheshire, Men and Manners in Australia, Allan’ On frontispiece: ‘To W.L. Grauer, With best wishes from the Headmaster & Staff, 1946, Roy W. Andrews, Betty H.T. Ward, H.E.L.Jones, S.A.O’Keefe, W.B.Gow,.A.F. Coggins, Leo Ingwersen, Winifred B. Gray, Ida L. Henderson, Lilian M. Williamson’ w.l. grauer, warrnambool high school

This booklet contains the address given by the Rev. W. Gray Dixon in 1909 at St. Paul’s Christchurch to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It was published at the request of the General Assembly and the proceeds of the sale of the booklet went into Presbyterian Church funds. The Rev. William Gray Dixon was born in Scotland and was the Presbyterian Minister at St. John’s Warrnambool from 1889 to 1900. In 1900 he went to New Zealand to St. David’s Church, Auckland and later to Dunedin. Rev, Gray Dixon was the author of several publications relating to Presbyterian Church history and activities. This booklet was sent from Auckland by Rev. Gray Dixon to Marcus Saltau, his friend in Warrnambool. Marcus Saltau (1869-1945)followed his father in the produce business in Warrnambool and expanded it to include management of the Warrnambool tramway (which took freight from the town to the port) and a shipping business that had its own vessels and an interstate and international trade. Marcus Saltau was prominent in Warrnambool’s community as a Councillor, Mayor and a politician (Upper House Member for the Western Province 1924-1940). He was a founding member of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Company, concerned with the establishment of the Nestles Factory at Dennington and a Warrnambool Hospital committee member and Chairman for over 30 years. The Jean Buick Saltau Maternity Ward and Marcus Saltau House at the Warrnambool Hospital survived as important community buildings for many years. This little booklet is of high significance as it is connected to two important Warrnambool people of the past – the Rev. William Gray Dixon and Marcus Saltau. It is the only Gray Dixon piece of writing that the Historical Society possesses and it is of double significance when it is noted that Marcus Saltau, the owner of the booklet was a friend of Gray Dixon’s, and was also a most important person in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft-cover booklet of 22 pages. The cover which is completely detached and very torn is grey-coloured with dark blue and grey ornamental scrolls and shields around the title of the book. The book contains a portrait of John Calvin, three black and white photographs of places in Geneva, the music of a song, ‘The Marseillaise of the Reformation’ and some verse. The book was stapled but the staples have been removed. The pages are made of lightweight parchment paper. The illustrations have been glued in. The text is a publication of an address given by the author, Rev. W. Gray Dixon to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1909. Front Cover: ‘John Calvin and the Modern World, Rev. W. Gray Dixon, M.A., Price Sixpence’ Inscription on first page: ‘To Marcus Saltau, Esq. with the esteem & affection of the Author, Auckland, 9th February 1910’ rev. w. gray dixon, marcus saltau, warrnambool