Historical information

This booklet was given to subscribers of the Warrnambool Standard as an almanac for the year 1875. It was the first of these Standard Almanacs and replaced the yearly diary which was previously printed in the newspaper. These Standard Almanacs were published yearly from 1875 to 1930 and contained information for the residents of Warrnambool and district on the year ahead – the names of local public officials, businesses, hotel keepers, school personnel, local organizations representatives etc. The Warrnambool Standard newspaper was established in 1872 and continues to this day.

Significance

This booklet is of high significance as it is the first of the yearly Warrnambool Standard Almanacs and contains much valuable information on Warrnambool and district for the year 1875. It is a very valuable research tool for those studying and writing Warrnambool’s history and is a rare copy. This copy appears to have belonged to George Barber, the son of George Barber, a well-known solicitor who opened a legal practice in Warrnambool in 1855. He died in 1879 and it appears that one or more members of his family went to live in the Maryborough area as this copy came into the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society via the Midlands Historical Society.

Physical description

This is a soft cover booklet of 80 pages plus many advertisements at the front and back. It has a buff-coloured cover with an ornamental border on the front cover and black lettering. The booklet contains a calendar and information on the people, organizations and businesses of Warrnambool and district in 1875. Some of the pages have been burnt at the bottom edges and there are several pages partly or wholly torn away. The pages have been annotated in many places, mostly in pencil but occasionally in ink. There are many names of the Barber family in the booklet.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Geo. Barber Esq. Warrnambool’(repeated many times)