Elbaite crystals
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF OUR CLUB
In 1968 Sheila Timms placed an advertisement in the 'Warrnambool
Standard' inviting people interested in gems/minerals to a meeting. As a
result of that advertisement, the club was formed at a meeting held in the
home of Arthur and Sheila Timms that year.
The club has operated continuously since then from a number of
locations in Warrnambool. These included a hall at the Church of England
in Warrnambool; a small room at the back of a house in Timor St.
opposite the current 'Warrnambool Co-op'; a tin shed with a dirt floor,
belonging to John Hattie, near the corner of Liebig St. and Lava St.; a
shop in the 'Market Arcade' in Lava St. and the 'old Scout Hall' in Pertobe
Rd.
The club moved to its current premises in the 'old pumphouse' in
Queens Road, Warrnambool over 20 years ago. The club has developed
it's workshop at this location over the years and now has a well equipped
facility. The premises are leased from the Warrnambool City Council which
is supportive of the club.
In 2009 - 10 the council has installed a toilet and water supply to the
building. It also undertook maintenance work on the exterior of the
building.
Top left: External view of club rooms
2007
Above: Part of the club workshop
2007
Left: Callum Laurenson faceting
2007
In July-August 2009, the Warrnambool City Council undertook demolition
of the stadium complex which adjoined the club rooms (see photos top row
below). The council repaired the roof of our club, installed some new
electrical wiring, a water supply, toilets and an access ramp.
Funding was also obtained to enable the exterior of the building to be
repaired where it had deteriorated. The club is grateful for the councils
ongoing support which will enable us to continue providing a venue for
club members to enjoy their lapidary pursuits.
2nd Row: July 2009: our club rooms on the left of the photo were the
original 'pumphouse buildings' for Warrnambool's water supply.
The 'tin house' was used as a sports stadium for several decades. In this
photo only the roof and supporting columns/bracing remain.
When the stadium is fully demolished, the area will revert to parkland. The
base of the stadium, which is the original reservoir for the city's water
supply will remain.
2nd Row:: Workshop during early stages of the renovations. Most of the
grinders and sanders were dismantled, cleaned, wire-brushed and
repainted as part of the renovations. Two new motors were installed.
3rd Row:: Alan Altmann and Keith Fisher, who along with John Honan did
much of the renovation work in the workshop
3rd Row::Jenny Wood, Janice Fisher and Kay Keen painting the bases
for the new benches
4th Row:: The workshop partially completed. Kay Keen, Janice Fisher,
Ted Morton and Alan Wood all made significant contributions to the
completion of the project. Right: Alan Altmann and Keith Fisher
constructing a frame for a workbench.
5th Row::: The completed workshop as of 7-4-2010, showing the new
grinding bench and the gravity fed water supply.
Right: Completed workshop showing new sanding bench. Bench heights
were increased and anti-fatigue rubber matting installed.
6th Row::: The slab saws and trim saws were all relocated to one end of
the workshop. Right: The slab saws and flat lap.
The new workshop was given a trial run on the 7-4-2010 by a small group
of club members and adjustments made to several items to ensure
everything was shipshape prior to opening the workshop for general club
use.
Photos below: 1st row: L: September 2010, showing repainted and
repaired exterior of clubrooms. The Warrnambool City Council has
undertaken significant work on the buildings.
R: Interior of club workshop, September 2010. Note the new storage
lockers forming the bases of the central benches.
2nd row: During January and February, 2012, the club installed 5
display cases for housing our mineral displays. The club was assisted by
the Warrnambool City council and the Moyne Shire council.
The displays have added significantly to the amenity of the clubs meeting
area.
In May, 2013, the club received the collection of member Ivy Harper
along with 3 of Ivy’s display cases. After a lot of work by club members,
the collection was put on display in the rejuvenated display cases. A
great addition to our club! You can view the display on the Ivy Harper
collection page.
3rd row: In October 2015, Steve Morgan, Jeff Gilbert and Alan
Altmann installed benches and repainted the
floor and walls on the new ‘glass fusing’ (right) and silversmithing area
in the club (left).
4th row: In November, the new faceting benches were installed and
a major rearrangement of the meeting
room of the club took place. Once again, this work was done by Steve
M., Jeff G. and Alan A.
Left: New faceting bench area.
Right: Rearranged display and meeting area.