Historical information

THE PATTISON COLLECTION

Flagstaff Hill’s ‘Pattison Collection’ includes rare books such as “The Birds of Australia” by Broinowsky. The collection of books and records was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853.

In 1935, Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library, as the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute was called.

When the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. At this time, some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison.

Eventually, the components of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute 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 to trace all of the items that 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 (1891-1969)

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 from 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as a 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 1950s, 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, because 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 he died in 1969.

Significance

The photograph of Ralph Eric Pattison is significant as it represents the connection of Pattison with the Warrnambool community from the 1930s to 1960s. Pattison enthusiastically worked to index and catalogue the existing books, expand the library's contents to suit a wide variety of topics, and make the material accessible to all people, including the first library for children. He went on to establish an Art Gallery and Museum for the City of Warrnambool.

Physical description

Photograph, sepia, in dark frame with white matte, behind glass.
Portrait of Ralph Eric Pattison, City Librarian 1936 - 1960, City of Warrnambool.

Inscriptions & markings

Printed below photograph: "Ralph Eric Pattison" "City Librarian" "1936 - 1960"