fred, mechanic, phil tulk, workshop

Harris. WM. & Jane – Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Decorations in Mechanics Hall Great Western. 1932 In Great Western Families Book under Harris are similar photo'sBlack and white photo, Showing decorations in Mechanic Hall for Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Floral arrangements on stands . Ceiling swags with diamonds and Bells possibly paper. Closed off area fronted with Diamonds cut out and attached to board. Group includes Ernest Harris & Wife. Decorations in Mechanics Hall Great Western for Diamond Wedding 1932 William Harris And Jane Harris ( Nee Colley) 21 October 1932stawell

14 pages, individual pages, some pages torn, all pages discoloured and stained mining; english mechanic directory; gas engines; wright patent adjustable axle guage

Colour Slide: A Man sitting at a desk wearing a worn brown jacket and cap doing paper work lake bellfield

Updated (1970) extract of regulations from the 1958 Apprenticeship Act covering Textile Mechanics. Owned and used by the Collins Bros Mill, Geelong.textile mills staff, textile mills management, collins bros mill pty ltd, textile mills - staff, textile mills - management

Genealogical Group Display Opening held at the Mechanic Hall showing Ian and Edith Bulmer and Jan Grant Lakes Entrance Victoria. Also two other colour photographs taken the same day numbers 04108.3 and 04108.4 size 10 x 15 cm, plus a black and white photograph of Marion Holding and Margo Kirby number 04108.5 size 8 x 11 cmColour photograph taken at the Genealogical Group Display Opening held at the Mechanic Hall showing Ian and Edith Bulmer and Jan Grant Lakes Entrance Victoriagenealogy, clubs

"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

Marine Technician (Stoker, engineering mechanic)badge/buttons, ran

Fundraiser event held by the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies AuxiliaryInvitation for the event held at Melton Mechanic's Hallemergency services

Tom Barrie married Marion Ferris at Christ Church Melton on 11th of May 1939. They lived on the family farm at Ferris Road Melton. They had one son, Ian who has continued in farming in MeltonPhotographs taken at Darlingsford, Melton and Melton Mechanic's Institutelocal identities

The original Mechanics Institute Hall burn down on 28/8/1965 and this book contains the minutes for the this hall.Standard Minute Book used by the Emerald Mechanic Institute in 1942minute book mechanics institute emerald

Black and white photograph.Written below photograph: "Ringwood Mechanic's Institute - 1909"

Naval Rating Badge. Electrical Mechanic, power / electrical/ technical powerbadge/buttons, ran

Collection of Accounts, 1912 - A Wilson, Plumber, Gasfitter and General Mechanic, View St.business, retail, general, a wilson

Included in the 'crowd' is Mary and Annie McPherson, Annette Jongebloed, Dick Riddell, Jack Tolhurst and Margaret Mearle.Held at Mechanic Institute. The backdrop banner says "Welcome st Vincent's Ball". local architecture, local identities