These items, 1930s bank books belonging to Michael Toohey, a Woodford farmer, come from the estates of the Ardlie family of Warrnambool and appear to have been stored amongst the office material of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie (1843-1933). He was the son of pioneer Warrnambool settlers, John and Mary Ardlie. William Ardlie established a legal practice in Warrnambool in 1867, initially in partnership with George Barber. Ardlie was a dominant figure in legal and community circles in Warrnambool and continued with his legal practice until the early 1930s. The bank books were issued by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. A Warrnambool branch of this bank was established in 1927 when it acquired the Bank of Victoria. The Warrnambool branch of the Bank of Victoria at 92 Liebig Street then became the Commercial Bank of Sydney. In 1958 the bank building was demolished and new premises were built. In 1981 the Commercial Bank of Sydney merged with the National Bank of Australia and traded as the National Bank in the building at 92 Liebig Street until the premises were closed in 1985.These items are of minor interest as mementoes of the Warrnambool branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney..1 A bank book with a hard black cover and pages containing ruled black lines. The cover has a white label pasted on. This has black printing and handwriting. The pages contain handwritten debit and credit entries. .2 A bank book with a soft black cover and a white label pasted on. This label has black printing and handwriting. The pages have ruled red lines, some entries in black handwriting and some bank stamps. Most of the pages are unused. Mr M. Toohey Michael Toohey Woodford commercial banking co of sydney, warrnambool branch, michael toohey,, woodford farmer, history of warrnambool

Tait collection: item 36 of 62 This document contains the details of the Will and Probate of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He was born in 1804 and died in 1889. He was a pioneer settler in the Woodford area, arriving, according to the Pioneer Honour Board, in 1842. His son, Ivor, was Secretary of the Grasmere Cheese and Butter Factory for some time and Secretary of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory in 1888. David Williams left real estate to the value of £1540 and personal estate to the value of £1075. The chief beneficiary was his eldest son, David but other sons and grandsons also benefited. His wife, Mary, was left £300, a house to live in rent free during her lifetime, two cows and the right to graze them on the farm, six silver spoons, her bed and bedding, washstand and ware, a dressing table, a table in the dairy and ‘all the crockery and cooking utensils she may require’. The lawyer drawing up this document was James Fletcher who had an office in Port Fairy in the 1870s and an office in Koroit Street, Warrnambool, in the 1880s. In the 1890s and early 1900s he was in partnership with George Mackay. This document was in the possession of the lawyer Ernest Chambers who had drawn up the Williams will. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street until it was located in 2014 in the Kepler Street building last used as legal premises by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable interest as it contains the will and probate details of a prominent 19th century farmer in the Woodford district. It will be useful for researchers.This is a white piece of parchment paper folded in two with typed material on two pages and handwritten material on one page. The pages are ruled with red ink. The pages include the Will and Probate details of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He died in 1889.In the Supreme Court in the Colony of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of David Williams Morgrugyn farm near Woodford in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceasedjames fletcher, david williams, ernest chambers, warrnambool, woodford, morgrugyn farm

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

This book belonged to Alice Mathieson. The Mathieson families were early settlers in the Woodford and Purnim areas as shopkeepers and farmers (1850s and 1860s). Peter Mathieson was a holder of land in the Nullawarre area in the 1880s. Alice Mathieson would probably be a member of this Nullawarre Mathieson family. No other information has been found about her. This book is of minor interest as an example of a 1920s attractively-illustrated book on an area in Scotland. It is also of interest as it belonged to a Nullawarre resident in the 1920s. This is a hard cover book of 68 pages. The cover has a grey background and a colour sketch of a house by the seashore on the front cover and black lettering on the front cover and on the spine. The book has twelve full page colour sketches scattered throughout the text. The cover and pages are somewhat stained and the spine is torn away at the bottom edge. The inscription is handwritten in pencil and black ink.‘Alice Mathieson Nullawarre 1927’ alice mathieson, nullawarre, history of warrnambool

This medal was awarded at the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association Annual Show to Daniel Hourigan in 1877 for his yearling colt by 'Prince of the Isles'. The formation of the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association arose out of a meeting at Woodford in 1853 and the first Show was held in Warrnambool in 1855 on a green bound by Fairy, Henna and Koroit Streets. It was held there until 1875 when it moved to the present Warrnambool Showgrounds in Koroit Street. At the 37th Annual Show in 1890 Warrnambool held its first Grand National Show, a title granted by the Chamber of Agriculture in Victoria. The Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association became known as the Warrnambool Agricultural Show in 1911. Daniel Hourigan was a farmer, road contractor, poundkeeper and auditor who lived in the Tower Hill area in the 19th century. This medal is of considerable interest as it is a memento of the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association Annual Show in the 19th century. Annual Agricultural Shows have been an important feature of agricultural life in Victoria since the early days of European settlement and a feature of agricultural life in the Warrnambool district since the 1850s. The medal is also of great interest because it was awarded to Daniel Hourigan, a prominent settler in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. .1 Circular silver disc with image of horse, bull, sheep, wheat sheaf and plough on the reverse with script around edge of obverse with awardees details engraved in the centre. Edge of the medal is plain. .2 Square maroon leather case with small metal clasp and hinge. Lined on the interior with blue velvet and cream silk.Obverse :" Warrnambool" engraved above image of cattle. W J Taylor London Reverse : Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Association in low relief around the edge. 1st prize awarded to Daniel Houriganfor yearling colt , "Prince of the Isles Annual Show 10th October 1877.warrnambool, villiers and heytesbury, daniel hourigan, prince of the isles, 1877, villiers & heytesbury agricultural show

This is a book given to Margaret Davidson in 1875 by her aunt, Mrs J. Davidson. Margaret Milne Davidson (1839-1928) was the eldest child of James and Isabella Davidson and she was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. She came to the Warrnambool area in 1850. The property, ‘Woodend’, was near Cassadys Bridge (Caramut Road today). The aunt, Mrs J. Davidson would be the wife of John Davidson, the brother of James and a farmer at ‘Rosebank’, Woodford. The portraits of John and James Davidson are on the Warrnambool Pioneer Honour Board. This book is of interest because of its inscription. The book is connected to the Davidson families, prominent in Warrnambool’s pioneer history.This is a hard cover book of 832 pages. The book has a dark green cover with dark green and gold lettering with ornamental gold surrounds. The book has an index, short stories, poems, essays and articles on science and the arts. The book contains monthly journals for 1874 combined in one volume. The cover is stained and blotched. There are several stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society. The inscription on the first page is handwritten in black ink. ‘Margaret M. Davidson, Woodend, from her aunt, Mrs J. Davidson, 30/9/75’.margaret davidson, james and john davidson, history of warrnambool