"The Mechanics Institute movement flourished in Victoria from 1839 to 1950. It was based on the development of Mechanics’ Institutes in Scotland and England from the 1820s, which were intended to educate and enlighten the working classes. The term ‘mechanic’ in those days meant an artisan, craftsman or working man, especially those who had moved from rural areas to work in new city factories during the Industrial Revolution. The early Institutes were usually equipped with a reading room, a library and a lecture room. Although enjoying mixed success in Britain, they contributed to the development of public education and library services. The movement was adopted more enthusiastically in the colonies. It began slowly in Victoria but its expansion after the gold rushes population influx was rapid, especially in rural areas. Every suburb and town wanted to have a Mechanics’ Institute. During the 1850s approximately forty Institutes were established, with even greater growth in the period 1860 to 1900. By 1900 there were 400 Institutes in Victoria. The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute was often a great achievement for a local community, requiring organising committees to raise substantial funds for a building site (where this had not been granted by the Government), and the building. Once built, the committee then had to purchase books, provide a caretaker or librarian, and finance the ongoing use of and improvements to the building. ‘The history of many Institutes is a story of tremendous community effort, and often, financial difficulties’. In addition to being monuments to local enterprise and community life, the Mechanics’ Institutes played a vital role as an intellectual forum, and in contributing to an informed and participatory democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They provided journals and other reading matter on local, state, national and international issues, and hosted of lectures and held debates about wider issues such as Federation, colonial nationalism, defence, female suffrage, the price of land and labour. With the development of the school and technical education in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the need for community technical and adult education declined. As a result of the introduction of government library grants in 1867, many Mechanics’ Institutes incorporated a free library in their buildings to finance collection of their books. By 1884-85, there were 257 free libraries in Victoria. However, government support and library grants dropped off in the 1890s depression. Entertainment took on a greater role in the 1890s, with the introduction of moving pictures, billiards rooms, games rooms (chess), concerts and dances. The First World War had a devastating impact on many rural communities, and some Mechanics’ Institutes were no longer viable. On the other hand the early twentieth century was also a time of agricultural development, and many country towns were growing in this period. The 1930s depression further limited growth of many libraries and reduced grants substantially. In response many Mechanics’ Institutes were renamed, for example as memorial halls, in order to retain and attract more patrons (eg at nearby Sunbury). The diminishing role for Mechanics’ Institutes and the preference for larger and better appointed halls (with supper rooms, cloak rooms etc) resulted in demolition of some small Institutes. The advent of cars, radios, and television also provided other opportunities for recreation, learning and entertainment. The greater role of municipalities in providing library services also eroded the need for free libraries. While over 500 Mechanics’ Institutes or halls are extant, very few of these retain their original role as ‘diffusers of useful knowledge’. Most are still available for community purposes, as venues for meetings, socials, civic occasions etc, while others are employed as museums, shops and theatres. Most buildings are on Crown land, and managed by a delegated committee of management, who are responsible for raising revenue to maintain aging buildings. Many of those which were originally established on private land, such as Melton, have since reverted back to the Crown, and municipal Councils. The most common Mechanics Institute building form is the simple weatherboard gable building with iron roofs, notable for their ‘honest simplicity’ rather than as ‘monuments of the ancients’. At the other extreme there are some magnificent two storeyed brick and stucco structures with elaborate ornamentation (as was apparently envisaged by some in Melton in 1905-10)". The future of Melton Mechanic Institute Gazette articlelocal architecture

The jug and cup were purchased from a second - hand shop in Bairnsdale. Jug is older than cup as the chalet is represented as a single storey structure. The cup is later as the second storey appears in the illustration. 'Souvenirs in relation to the Chalet and Mount Buffalo wee first mention in December 1912... A large range of souvenirs has since been associated with the Chalet and Mount Buffalo from crafted wooden items, silver spoons, cups etc... The collection includes a broad selection of products that have been sold throughout much of the Chalet's history, each representative of the transient fashions of their period.' (Pg. 114. Historica) 'A group of tableware items is notable for its black transfer printed decoration, which features the Chalet building. Interestingly, the printed designs represent the Chalet at two different stages in its building history under the Victorian Railways, in 1926 after completion of the north wing, and 1937-39, after the second storey is added to the front.. manufactured in England by A.B. Jones and sons, a Stoke on Trent pottery firm which operated under the trade name of Grafton China between 1900-1972.' (Pg. 114. Historica)Listed in Draft Inventory of Significant Collection Items . Appendix A.3. Souvenirs. (Pg 168. Historica)..1] Ceramic jug. Souvenir of Mt Buffalo. White ceramic squat milk jug with a black transfer illustration/drawing on front side. Picture is of the MtBuffalo Chalet from the front. Some worn gold glaze detail. It appears to be a single story building with a planted garden at the front with a fence. Trees to one side and people walking up steps. "THE CHALET, MT BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK, VICTORIA." is written under the illustration. Jug has a faint crack. .2] White ceramic cup with gold edging around top of cup. Black transfer drawing of the chalet with a second storey. Rocks and tree in foreground and "THE CHALET. MT BUFFALO." underneath transfer. .1] "THE CHALET, MT BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK, VICTORIA." is written under the illustration. On the base of the jug, with sun motif, "ENGLAND / GRAFTON CHINA /A / B J / & SONS / LOFTUS MORA / PTY. LTD" .2] "THE CHALET. MT BUFFALO." underneath transfer. Under cup, "A.B.J. / GRAFTON / CHINA / MADE IN / ENGLAND"

A document detailing rules and regulations of the running of the Legacy Club, Melbourne. The date is not known. The policy and objects covers: loyalty, comradeship, dependents of deceased soldiers, cooperation with other organisations, education, preference, national development, and Shrine of Remembrance. Other parts of the document covers eligibility for membership, transfer of members, subscriptions etc. Meetings and their procedures as well as management structure. It is possibly before 1940 when the RSSILA changed it's name to RSSAILA. The notation H14 in red pen shows that it was part of the archive project that was trying to capture the history of Legacy. Documents the details of the rules and policies of the Legacy Club, Melbourne.White foolscap paper with black type x 7 pages of a document of regulations.Handwritten H14 in red pen. history, rules, organisation structure, objectives, goals

Article - "Melbourne cable and electric tramways" - with the subheading "First Substitution by Diesel Buses", with H H Bell, MMTB Chairman as the author. Describes the current system, cable tram operation, formation of the Board, Chairman Bell, Cameron, conversion, H H Bell's tour, closure of the cable system and operation by diesel buses, the new SW6 tram, Australian PCC cars, Diesel bus development, Fare Structure and notes the Board's payments to the fire brigade etc. Has photos of Y 469, Leyland cub buses, W5 736. Has adverts for Bell Punch ticket machines, Smith's clocks and Karrier trucks. There is a report from Thomas Tilling Ltd about their operation and annual reporting.Yields information about Melbourne tramways in 1939 and the background history.Magazine cutting from Modern Transport 25/2/1939 - pages 43 and 44trams, tramways, mmtb, cable trams, buses, bus replacement, h h bell., melbourne, y class, w5 class, tram 469, tram 736, leyland cub