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 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.

Physical description

The History of Warrnambool: Capital of the Western Ports of Victoria, From1847 up to the end of 1886 (when the first Government Land Sales took place)
Author: Richard Osburne, "Proprietor of the Warrnambool Examiner from 1851 to the close of 1880"
Publisher: The Chronicle Printing and Publishing Company Limited
Date: 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) (Roman numerals are covered in tape)
Edition: Original: Queen's Jubilee Edition
Hardcover book with titles on the spine and front cover. The front and back covers have been coated in a clear substance, the spine has fabric reinforcing with titles handwritten in white. Inscriptions include stamps and handwriting.
A library label has been pasted onto the front cover, then the cover has been lacquered. The first fly page has a message to the readers, as shown in the Inscriptions of this record.
Many of the pages in this book have handwritten notes in the margins and within the text and some of the lines are crossed out.

Inscriptions & markings

The Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library
Front loose endpaper has a stamp from "Warrnambool Mechanics Institute"
Handwritten Iin black pen on from cover are the words "Warrnambool Museum"
Label on the front cover: "THE ATTENTION OF SUBSCRIBERS ..."