"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

Collection of photographs from school trip to Central Australia commencing 19th September 1990. Attached image of report ftom the school magazine states "...a group of 40 students headed off on a long journey by bus to Central Australia". (See image 22736-00 for report).

Collection of photographs from school trip to NSW and Queensland c1978. Students mostly not identified.

The school canteen, located at the end of the Trade Wing, commenced service in 1961. It was an important source of fund-raising for much-needed items such outdoor seating for the 600+ students at the new co-ed campus which had opened the previous year.Black and white photograph. None

Letters of Sympathy from RAAF Units for Dental Surgeon "Mervyn Clive Townsend" lost on HMAS SYDNEY on 15/11/41. Refer Cat No. 2313P for Townsends service.1. Handwritten letter on white paper. Paper headed with RAAF stamp and name of Military Base. 2. Handwritten letter on cream white paper. Royal Australian Air Force stamp in top left corner and name of RAAF Unit in right corner. 3. Handwritten letter of cream white paper. Stamp at top of bird with outstretched wings with crown at top.1. Listed from RAAF Station, Nhill, Victoria and dated 3/12/41, signed by “Edward Campbell”. 2. Listed No. 1 School of Technical Training, Radio Mechanics Course, Dated 1st December and signed “Allan Davis”. 3. Listed No. 2 METO Course, School of Technical Training and dated 3/12/41.hmas sydney, kia, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

This is a set of 17 photographs of technicians from the Royal Australian Survey Corps undertaking technical tasks circa 1990s. Photos .1P to .9P were taken at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. Photos .10P to .15P and .17P of students operating survey equipment, were taken at the School of Military Survey, Bonegilla and survey stations surrounding Lake Hume. The base camp at photo .16P was probably taken at Sandy Creek, near Tallangatta Victoria, during the field phase of a basic or advanced RA Svy training course. CPL Steve Nokes appearing in photo .17P was attending the 1/90 Map Control Survey Course.This is a set of 17 photographs of technicians from the Royal Australian Survey Corps undertaking technical tasks at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, and the School of Military Survey, Bonegilla c1992. Colour photos are on 35mm slide film and were scanned at 96 dpi. Photo .17P is in black & white, printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. The photos are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) – Photo, colour, c1992, Aerial photography Assessment, SGT Tony Grivell. .2) – Photo, colour, c1992, Aerial photography Assessment, L to R: WO2 Noel McNamara and LCPL Grant Lloyd. .3) – Photo, colour, c1992, Wild PUG4 point transfer device, LCPL Mark Fedden. .4) – Photo, colour, c1992, AUTOMAP 2 Graphic Edit Workstation, unidentified technician. .5) – Photo, colour, c1992, Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press, CPL Nick Vanderzwan. .6) – Photo, colour, c1992, Daylight film contact frame, SPR Ken Labourchardiere. .7) – Photo, colour, c1992, Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 Map Colour Evaluation Workstation, SGT Stuart Ridge. .8) – Photo, colour, c1992, Map proof evaluation, CPL John Bragg. .9) – Photo, colour, c1992, Wohlenberg MCS-2 guillotine, unidentified technician. .10) – Photo, colour, c1992, Wild T2 Theodolite, L to R: SPR Matt Arnold, SPR Kim Baker. .11) – Photo, colour, c1992, Wild T2 Theodolite, L to R: SSGT Bob Bright, SPR Kim Baker. .12) to .14) – Photo, colour, c1992, MRA-7 Tellurometer, CPL Mark Bourne. .15) – Photo, colour, c1992, Plane Tabling, CPL Mark Bourne. .16) – Photo, colour, c1992, School of Military Survey base camp, Sandy Creek, VIC. .17) – Photo, black & white, 1990, MRA-7 Tellurometer, CPL Steve Nokes. .1P to .16P - There are no annotations. .17P – annotated on back ‘CPL NOKES WITH MRA7 ON 1/90 MAP CONTROL COURSE’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, school of military survey, fortuna, asr

The booklet gives an overview of the history of the schools which occupied the site as well as information from newspapers and lists of staff at various times over the years.A large number of Warrnambool students would have passed through this school and hence this program would have social and historical significance to them. 16 page booklet with white cover. Front cover has black and white photo of the school with the five logos/ badges relating to each of five schools which have occupied it over the 100 years. The back cover has the words to the Warrnambool High School song written in 1937.The centre pages have photographs of various student groups.Appreciations for SEAL Work for the Dole program, Glen Morgan, Russ Goodear, Angeleen & Marlene Fogarty, Ray Welsford, Pat Varley, Jim & Ros Thomson, Committee of Management and staff of SEAL.warrnambool agricultural high school, warrnambool high school, warrnambool technical school, warrnambool special school

This is a book of 428 pages. The cover has brown composite material with a leather spine and corners. The spine has gold lettering and gold ridged lines. The corners are somewhat tattered. The title page and some other pages are torn. The pages contain printed text, black and white diagrams and sketches and colour illustrations.non-fictionEncyclopedia of Technical Education.Two volumes with technical information on a wide range of subjects. technical education, technical school text book, warrnambool

This building opened on 19 October 1874. The front section of this building including 8 classrooms, the headmaster's office and the bell tower were destroyed by fire 27 February 1890. "The burnt section of the school was rebuilt along the lines of the original building and today the red brick facade and bell tower are a feature of the Hare Strett skyline" (Echuca Stetchbook, Blyth, I, 1978, p.32.Henry Hopwood, founder of Echuca, saw the need to establish a national school to educate the children of Echuca. The first National School opened in October 1858 in a framed tent. Construction of the first brick school house began in 1859 on the site of the original Post Office in Hare street. Later the site changed to the southern end of Hare street and this building was opened 19 October 1874. The school stayed here until a new school was built on the old Echuca Technical School site.Colour photograph (post-card size) of Echuca Primary School, 208, showing the eastern facade including the bell tower, taken from the eastern side of High street. Printed on the reverse:"this paper manufactured by Kodak"echuca-primary schools, echuca-historical buildings

David George Clark was the first and longest-serving headmaster at Eltham State School No. 209 (Eltham Primary) in Dalton Street, Eltham. David (then aged 26) and his sister Catherine first established their ‘private’ school which began in 1855 and was held in the Wesleyan Chapel in Henry Street, a slab built, shed-like building on land acquired by the Church in January 1855. Parents lobbied the Government to establish an official school, and a School Inspector came out to investigate. He found that the Clarks were of good moral and religious character (David taught Sunday School at St. Margaret's later on) and gave them his endorsement despite some perceived technical shortcomings. In 1856 a small stone building of 40 feet by 16 feet was erected on the school's present site at the corner of Main Road and Dalton Street. Half of the building was the school, the other half was the residence of David and Catherine and their mother, also Catherine. It appears that they were well respected by the local community: David constantly battled with the authorities to have facilities (such as toilets) at the school improved. As enrolment gradually increased, over-crowding became an issue. As well, David married Elizabeth in 1863. Needing to move out of the schoolhouse, in 1866 the Clarks bought a block of land in Metery Road next to the school and built the house "Shoestring" (which still exists albeit with significant modifications). Catherine retired in 1887 followed by David in 1889 after a period of ill health and was succeeded as Head Teacher by John Brown. David died in 1911 and is buried with his wife Elizabeth in Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory Of D. G. & E. ClarkBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, david george clark, elizabeth clark, eltham primary school, eltham wesleyan chapel, state school no. 209

Hardback book bound with 262 pagesNories Air Tables, inside are several stamps Technical Library No. 3 AOS, No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF Mount Gambier, JM Roweair tables, book, jm rowe, no. 3 aos, no. 2 ans, technical library

Double storey brick buildings at the Ballarat School of Mines Campus of Federation University.ballarat technical art school, gribble building, a building, administration building, lydiard street south, ballarat school of mines

Double storey brick buildings, and former Ballarat Gaol buildings and walls, at the Ballarat School of Mines Campus of Federation University.ballarat technical art school, gribble building, a building, administration building, lydiard street south, ballarat school of mines, baballarat, "aal" pitzen