Historical information

These oak and rattan high-backed armchairs were previously the old Warrnambool Council's furniture. The group of chairs was later held by the Warrnambool Art Gallery, then transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village in 1976, soon after it opened.

Warrnambool became a municipality in 1855, with a population of 1500. In 1863, it became a borough, and the Shire of Warrnambool was constituted in the same year. In 1883, Warrnambool was proclaimed a Town, and in 1918, it became the City of Warrnambool. In 1994, the City of Warrnambool and part of the Shire of Warrnambool amalgamated, becoming the Warrnambool City Council.

Significance

Chairs are significant to local history as they were originally purchased for use in the Warrnambool Council. The chairs were part of the social and cultural history of Warrnambool.

Physical description

Chair, oak wood arm chair (set of 9), cureved back with decorated wooden edges, shield carved into top and protective metal plates on top at rear. Padded leather seat studded at edge, over rattan cane seat. Rattan cane is stitched onto wooden frame through drilled holes. Front and side legs each have two spindles between them. back legs have one. Legs are turned and slightly cambriol. Some chairs have written on back leg "1486". Made in England, c. 1896

Inscriptions & markings

Some of the chairs have hand written black pen on back leg "1486"