Photocopies a,b, of two different Sandhurst Mechanic's Institute & Free Library bookmarks from the same period. Henderson and Goodisson, Bush's Stores, and John W Faul's advertisements featured.bendigo, institutions, mechanics institute and free librar

Contents: - The Calling of Mt Riddell (Frank Endacott), - With its wooden walls still shadowed by lilacs (Pam Firth), - Mechanic Institute (Eric and Pam Firth), - Coranderrk Aboriginal Cemetery , - Our Mob: Interesting Healesville connections (Connections to Captain Cook philately and Red Baron of WW1 notoriety), - Plus moreThe first newsletter of the Society was issued July 1984 and has been published continuously ever since on a quarterly basis....mt riddell, mechanic institute, coranderrk

"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

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

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

One of the most comprehensive studies of mechanics institute in Victoria. Beginning from 1839 to the present. Arguably Victoria's oldest and most influential surviving institution. History of approx.1,000 institutes including building status, social adult education, library history, heritage listings, plus thematic essays about the Mechanic Institute movement and development. Includes: role of woman, architecture, schools of art and design and schools of mines. This is the most comprehensive study of mechanics institute in Victoria.History of approx.1,000 institutes including building status, social adult education, library history, heritage listings, plus thematic essays about the Mechanic Institute movement and development. Includes: role of woman, architecture, schools of art and design and schools of mines. This is the most comprehensive study of mechanics institute in Victoria.Signed by co-author Ken James on title page.libraries, educational and research establishments, mechanics institutes, surrey hall, (mr) ken james, (ms) pam baragwanath

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

Account to Court King of the Forest from the Long Gully Mechanic's Institute dated Sep 27th 1871 for 3 months rent £2.societies, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - account, court king of the forest, long gully mechanic's institute

Account to Court King of the Forest from the Long Gully Mechanic's Institute dated June 27 1877 for the 1/4 rent £2.societies, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - account, court king of the forest, long gully mechanic's institute

Account to Court King of the Forest from the Long Gully Mechanic's Institute dated Sep 25 1872 for 3 ms rent £2.societies, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - account, court king of the forest, long gully mechanic's institute

Inglis Street of Ballan .circa 1930/40.The photograph is looking East. Parts of the Mechanics Institute and Free Library can be seen, as can the butcher shop, and on the opposite side of the Street the Ballan Hotel and Post and Telegraph office.Black and white photograph of Inglis Street Ballan.Looking East. Photograph is on a cardboard backing with an ornate surround of green and gold. Cars and a truck circa 1930/40 are parked in the street.The word Ballan written on bottom of surround under the photographtelegraph office, car, mechanic institute, butcher shop, delivery truck, 1930 40 cars

Mechanics Institutes were first established in the 19th century in Scotland and England to improve the education of working class men and to instruct them in their various trades. In Australia Mechanics’ Institutes were set up in the late 1920s with the first one in Melbourne dating from 1839. The Institutes in Victoria were (and some still are) a feature of Victorian country towns, usually consisting of a hall containing a Library and in bigger centres art class rooms and other recreation areas. The Woodford Mechanics’ Institute was established in 1861, enlarged in 1868 and burnt down in 1917.This seal is of major interest as it is the only seal we have of Mechanics’ Institutes in our district. These Mechanics’ Institutes were very important in the educational and social development of Victorian country towns. This is a seal or stamp made of brass and attached to a wooden handle. The wood on the handle is of a dark colour and is urn-shapedStamp - Woodford Mechanics Institutemechanics’ institutes, woodford, early mechanic institute seal

Green cloth bound cover Gold detailing and writing on spine embossed detailing 5 unnumbered pages ; 359 pages ; 22 cm ; ill Handwritten inscription on first unnumbered page '32' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanic's Institute'w. m. thackeray, kilmore mechanics institute library.

Green cloth bound cover Gold detailing and writing on spine embossed detailing 3 unnumbered pages ; 343 pages ; 22 cm ; ill Handwritten inscription on first unnumbered page '33' Stamp on various pages 'Kilmore Mechanic's Institute'w. m. thackeray

Account to Court King of the Forest from the Long Gully Mechanic's Institute dated June 14 for candles supplied 9/-, Special Audit Lights 11/- and Sep 20 1876 Rent £2. Total £3. Paid 21/9/76societies, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - account/receipt, court king of the forest, long gully mechanic's institute