Historical information

The Pattison Collection:
The ‘Pattison Collection’ comprises books and records that were originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was established in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886, the Institute had expanded significantly, boasting a Library, Museum, and Fine Arts Gallery. The collection included notable works of art and valuable specimens from various fields, as well as remarkable national curiosities and historic relics relating to the town and district. The Institute later incorporated a School of Design. Despite being popular with the public, the Institute struggled financially and, in 1911, requested that the City Council assume control.
In 1935, Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise what was then known as the Warrnambool Library. When the Mechanics’ Institute building was demolished in 1963, a new civic building was constructed on the site, and the Warrnambool Library, managed by the City Council, acquired all the holdings of the WMI. It was during this transition that certain items were separated and designated as the ‘Pattison Collection’, in honour of Ralph Pattison. Over time, the various components of the WMI were distributed among different institutions, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society, and Flagstaff Hill. Some items were also sent to other regional branches of the Corangamite Regional Library, and their exact locations have become difficult to trace. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village typically bear stamps and markings from Pattison and various other institutions, including the Mechanics’ Institute itself.

Ralph Eric Pattison:
Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. In 1920, he married Maude Swan from Warrnambool, and the couple settled in Warrnambool. Pattison accepted the role of City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council in 1935. Tasked with transforming two rooms in the Mechanics’ Institute into a functional library, he diligently cleaned, sorted, and organised a disordered collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens, and assorted items previously reserved for the city’s museum.
Pattison expanded and modernised the library, ensuring it catered to a broad range of interests, including providing reference books for students—a challenging feat in the years following the Depression. He converted the lower level of the building into a library, reference room, and reading room for both members and the public. Books were organised using a cataloguing and card index system that Pattison designed himself.
He also prepared the upper floor, establishing both an Art Gallery and, later, a Museum to display the many historical relics collected over the years. Among these treasures was a beautiful antique clock, which Pattison restored and used in his office throughout his tenure. He was known as a meticulous gentleman, recognised for his punctuality, impeccable courtesy, and neat appearance. His restored clock regulated his daily routine and the precise opening and closing of the library’s doors.
During 1942 to 1945, Pattison took leave to serve as a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve. A few years later, he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, which quickly became popular. In the 1950s, Pattison was appointed to the Victorian Library Board, where he gained further inspiration from monthly conferences in Melbourne. He retired in 1959, after more than 23 years of service, due to having surpassed the working age limit for council officers. Nevertheless, Pattison maintained a strong interest in the ongoing development of the Library until his death in 1969.

Warrnambool Public Library:
The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) originated from a voluntary community group in 1863, just six years after the founding of Warrnambool, with its Reading Room opening in 1854. The WMI remained in operation until 1963 and was among the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria.
Mechanics’ Institutes provided essential public services, including libraries, reading rooms, and spaces for the exhibition and storage of curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886, a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI, and by the early 20th century, it also featured a billiards room and a School of Art. At this time, it was common for country Victorian Mechanics’ Institutes to have attached museums.
Over the years, the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also referred to as the Warrnambool Public Library, the Warrnambool Library, and the Free Library. Early government funding was provided for the “Free Library”. For example, a book titled “Science of Man” was inscribed for the “Warrnambool Public Library” and donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another book, “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883”, was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle.
In 1903, the Warrnambool Public Library established a Juvenile Department, stocking hundreds of books suitable for young readers. In 1905, the committee updated the book collection by adding 100 new novels and arranging for the latest novels to be included as soon as they became available in Victoria.
By July 1911, the Warrnambool Council had assumed management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum, and Mechanics’ Institute, with plans to double the size of the existing building. In 1953, under the stewardship of Mr. R. Pattison, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section contained 10,000 fiction books out of a total of 13,000. The children’s section held an additional 3,400 books, equating to one book per head of population and serving around 33 percent of the local reading public. The collection comprised approximately 60 percent reference books and 40 percent fiction, with the library lending out 400 books per day.
In 1963, the Warrnambool City Council designated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building—which included the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery—for the new Municipal Offices, resulting in the dispersal of the collections until 1971. The Warrnambool Library subsequently assumed responsibility for the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the City Council.
Since the closure of the Mechanics’ Institute, the precise location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Additional items have entered the collection over time, including materials from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House, and Customs House. Many books are now identified as part of the Pattison Collection, named after the librarian who catalogued and numbered them before the Mechanics’ Institute closed.
When Warrnambool joined the Corangamite Regional Library, some books and materials were sent to its head office in Colac and later returned to Warrnambool, where they were stored at the Art Gallery for an extended period. Some items subsequently went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some remained at the Art Gallery, and others were transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books at Flagstaff Hill reflect the diverse distribution and origins of the collection.
The books currently held at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many are part of the “Pattison Collection”, named after Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr. R. Pattison.

Significance

Integration and Significance of the WMI Publication Collection:
Many components of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute (WMI) publication collection serve to complement and reinforce other important cultural collections in the region, including those held by the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, the Warrnambool Art Gallery, and the Warrnambool Historical Society. Collectively, these collections provide a more comprehensive understanding of the origins and development of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute holdings.
The presence and integration of these materials not only enhance the appreciation of the few remaining Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, but also contribute to the recognition of similar collections in New South Wales. Examining both the similarities and differences among these surviving collections offers valuable insights into the ways in which the people of Victoria—and the community of Warrnambool in particular—constructed a civic culture centred on adult education, ultimately fostering an informed and engaged citizenry.

Local and State Importance:
The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is significant at local and state levels. Its value lies in its relationship to other cultural collections, its historical context, and its enduring role in supporting the intellectual and social development of the community.

Physical description

The Tilted Cross
Author: Hal Porter
Publisher: Faber and Faber. London
Date: 1961
Hardcover bound book with gold embossed titles on the spine, and a pasted-on title on the front cover. Inscriptions are on labels on the spine and front loose endpaper, and on a stamp on the fly page.
The book is part of the Pattison Collection

Inscriptions & markings

Label with typed text": "PAT FIC POR"
Sticker: "Corangamite Regional Library Service"
Stamp: "Warrnambool Public Library"