George Henry Wannenmacher (1856-1930) was the son of German immigrants. George trained as a hairdresser and operated the hairdressing shop in the Windsor Hotel in 1889, living above the shop with his wife and family.

He became an insatiable collector of objects, including medals, coins, guns, pistols, watches, maps and war memorabilia. Some was acquired during his trips to Europe, China, Japan and America.

Wannenmacher left part of his medal collection to the Public Library in his will; the collection was subsequently transferred to Museum Victoria. It comprises 92 medals, including the Victoria Cross military medal awarded to Drummer Michael Magner, 33rd regiment, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, April 13, 1868, during the Abyssinia Campaign.

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