Historical information

This little book is one of only 1000 books published of the original Queen's Jubilee Edition. It spans fifty years of the history of Warrnambool from the time that the first Government Land Sales commenced. It also deliberately coincides with the 1887 celebrations of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year of her ascension to the British Throne.

The book is an invaluable reference for researchers of local Warrnambool history and has been used as a text book and reference book for local students.

The book had two owners before it became part of the Warrnambool Public Library, and when the library closed down, the book was held by the Warrnambool City Council until, in 1974, it was transferred to the newly established Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village.

The author, Richard Osburne, (1825-1895) was born in Australia. He moved to Warrnambool in 1847 as the first local Journalist. In 1851 he founded the Warrnambool Examiner newspaper which he operated until the end of 1880. Osburne was much involved in civic and community affairs of the town, and he set himself the task of recording the history of the city's early pioneers. In the introductory pages of the book the author refers to himself as "The Father of the Warrnambool Press".

Only 1,000 copies of this edition of the book were printed. In September 1980 a facsimile edition was printed with the addition of illustrations from the period, an index and relevant annotations by local historian T.A. Wicking (Tom Wicking). This later book was named the Premier Town Edition, due to Warrnambool being awarded the title of Premier Town in Victoria in 1979-82 by the Premier of Victoria; it also received the inaugural award in 1959 and a later award in 1988-91.

Significance

This book is rare. It is one of only 1000 copies printed, and one of three in the Collection of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village.
The book was dedicated to the early colonists as well as to the new arrivals by the writer, Richard Osburne, who entitles himself as "The father of the Warrnambool Press".
The content of the book is invaluable as a reference for Warrnambool and District's local history in its early colonial and pioneering days. It provides the information that helps in an understanding the foundation that the city was built on, connecting the people of today to the pioneers of the past.
The inscriptions of two previous owners of the book, at least one of whom was a local resident, gives additional significance to this copy.

Physical description

The History of Warrnambool: Capital of the Western Ports of Victoria
From1847 (when the first Government Land Sales took place) up to the end of 1886,
By Richard Osburne, Proprietor of the Warrnambool Examiner from 1851 to the close of 1880.
Author: Richard Osburne
Publisher: Prahran: The Chronicle Printing & Publishing Company Limited
Date: 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII)
Edition: Original: Queen's Jubilee Edition
Small book with hard cover and reinforced spine. Dust jacket front has been pasted over front hard cover. The hardcovers are covered with clear adhesive plastic covering. Inscriptions include a typed label on the spine, a stamp at base of the fly page, on the loose page inside front cover, on inside back cover, and two hand written names on the second fly page; Jackson Giblett and G. M. Potter. The first fly page has a message to the readers, as shown in the Inscriptions of this record.

Inscriptions & markings

Label on spine "R.A. 994.57 OSB"
Inscriptions on second fly page: "Jackson Giblett / 1886" and "G.M. Potter, 70 Japan Street"
Printed on fly page: "PRICE, FIVE SHILLINGS"
Stamp of front end paper: WARRNAMBOOL / PUBLIC LIBRARY", "000336" and in a rectangular border " - - - - - - / WARRNAMBOOL / PUBLIC LIBRARY"
First fly page: "THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE EDITION. TO OLD COLONISTS AND YOUNG AUSTRALIANS, OR NEW ARRIVALS, THIS HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE CAPITAL OF WESTERN VICTORIA, IS DEDICATED AS INTERESTING AND USEFUL, BY "THE FATHER OF THE WARRNAMBOOL PRESS" RICHARD OSBURNE."
Stamp inside back cover: "WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY/ Liebig Street / Warrnambool 3280 / (055) 6- 2258"