non-fictionA comprehensive history of approximately 1,000 mechanics' institutes in Victoria and their contribution to the educational and cultural life of Victoria from 1839 to the present. Information includes the building status, social adult education, library history and heritage listings, as well as essays about the Mechanic Institute movement and development. Winner of the Victorian Community History Award 2016 mechanics' institutes -- victoria, adult education -- victoria -- history, libraries -- victoria -- history., historic buildings -- victoria, victoria -- social life and customs

This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh and its nearby districts between September and November 1883. The photo is of a brick residence, built in 1865-66 as a house and surgery for Dr. Rae, a medical practitioner in Bacchus Marsh 1863-1874. Dr. Rae was influential in community affairs as a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Board of Advice of Bacchus Marsh Common School and a President of the Mechanics’ Institute. After ill health forced him to resign his practice, he built the Bungalow in 1880, where he lived until his death. The house was later purchased by William Anderson (c.1880) who named it “Dunglass”. The people in this photograph are probably members of the Anderson family. The house is now used as an Adult Education Centre. The house is of significance as the embodiment of the importance to the community of its influential figures, such as Dr. Rae, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the Jeremeas Family Album which contains photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo is of a double-fronted brick Classical nineteenth century house with a high hip roof. Two brick chimneys are visible. The left hand bay is set forward, with the central section of the house being set back. A concave return verandah supported by decorative columns runs along the front and side of the house, leading to a separate entry door off the side verandah. On the window set in this door, the word ‘SURGERY’ can be discerned, indicating that this is the entrance to be used by patients. The building features buff-coloured stone quoins and architraves. A white picket fence runs along the front. Ranged along the footpath in front of the fence stands a group of eight young women and girls. A flat stone acts as a bridge over a deep drainage culvert running parallel to the street.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, doctors, houses bacchus marsh