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 publication brings together major primary sources relating to mechanics' institutes in Victoria, as well as information about institutes in other States found in the Statistical Registers of each State.H 29.7 cm; 696 p; soft covermechanics' institutes

mechanics institutes - victoria, mechanics institutes - history

mechanics institutes - victoria, mechanics institutes - history

This book contains information on all known Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes were organizations formed originally to improve the education of working men and to instruct them in their various trades. The first Institutes were established in London and Manchester in the 1820s and in Australia the first Institutes were set up in New South Wales and Tasmania in the late 1820s, with the first one in Melbourne in 1839. Mechanics’ Institutes were set up in Victorian country towns, in many cases, soon after the settlements were founded. This book is of some importance as a reference book as it gives information on all known Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria and there were many in the Warrnambool region. The Mechanics’ Institutes were important centres for local adult education and recreation. The book will therefore be of great use to readers of local history and researchers. This is a hard cover book of 704 pages. It has many photographs, mostly black and white, and other images related to Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. It has a Contents page, Foreword, Dedications, a story entitled ‘Dingo Flat’, Preface, Introduction, Acknowledgements and articles on hundreds of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria, whether closed or still existing. The front cover has two black and white photographs and the title and the back cover has images from two Mechanics’ Institutes. The authors are Pam Baragwanath and Ken James.Front Cover: ‘These Walls Speak Volumes’, ‘A History of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria, ‘Pam Baragwanath and Ken James’mechanics’ institutes in victoria

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

Written to commemorate the Centenary of Federation 1901-2001 and to "Reintroduce" and preserve the Mechanics Institutes and their sizeable contribution to Australia's social development. Produced in conjunction with a travelling photographic display of the Institute buildings.Hard cover - brown. Title on spine. Dust cover - book shelves in background, lithograph of Mechanics Institute, Melbourne 1855. Composite illustration, plaque and sundial.centenary of federation, mechanics institutes, australia's social development

This is a paper back book of 24 pages. It has a white back cover and a grey/white front cover with a coloured photograph of the second Purnim Hall. The printed material is black on a white background. non-fictionBrief history of Purnim Mechanics Institute Hallpurnim, mechanics’ institutes, warrnambool

Mechanics Institute Main Street Stawell. Used for many years as the library. Colour photo c1970s. Built in 1875 after the previous institute was damaged by fire in 1874. Architect Mr. George Inskip. Previous wooden institute destroyed by fire in 1866. McKellar Building in background. Hairdresser and Grampians real estate signs visible.Angle on photograph of Mechanics Institute Building. Cars parked in street in Foreground. Hairdresser and Grampians real estate signs visible.Mechanics Institute 1875stawell streetscape

These Walls Speak Volumes, A history of Mechanics Institutes in Victoria, hardcover book with dust jacket, 704 pages with black and white photographs & information on Mechanics Institutes all over Victoria, published by authors, printed by BPA Print Group Burwood. Published 2015Pam Baragwanath & Ken Jamesbooks, school, mechanics institutes, victoria-mechanics institutes-history

Paperback; xii, 356 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.[written on flyleaf] With very best wishes, Pam Baragwanath. 17-11-2000mechanics' institute, social customs

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 photo of Mechanics Institute in 1905, later Scout Hall, Vermontvermont scout hall, scout halls, mechanics institutes, vermont mechanics institute

473 p. Dark cloth and cardboard cover with burgundy trim. Gold lettering on spine. Text: 'BALLAARAT MECHANICS' INSTITUTE / HAVEN UNDER THE HILL / LINSKILL'.fictionfiction

The book is a bound volume containing the weekly publications of The Graphic, an illustrated newspaper. The volume, No. 23, includes newspapers from January to June 1881. It was published and printed in London, England. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much - loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and its Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items have become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The Graphic, an Illustrated Newspaper, Vol 23 Publisher: Edward Joseph Mansfield, at The Strand, London Date: January to June, 1881 The bound book of newspaper editions has a hardcover with a leather spine and brown/orange/blue pattern on the covers. The spine has gold embossed lettering. Inscriptions; sticker on the front end paper from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library, and a purple, oval stamp on the fly from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library.Embossed in gold on the spine; "THE GRAPHIC", "VOL. XXIII", "JAN. TO JUNE. / 1881" Sticker [identifies the Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library] Stamp; concentric ovals with "WARRNAMBOOL" "MECHANICS'" "INSTITUTE" flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the graphic illustrated newspaper vol 23, edward joseph mansfield, the graphic, illustrated newspaper, volume 23

Part of Tim Shambrook's Collection for 'This is Vermont', P. 22.Black and white photo of Canterbury Road, Vermont, looking East, showing Mechanics Institute Hall which became Scout Hall. Old style street lamp in picture.vermont mechanics institute, mechanics institutes, vermont scout hall, shambrook, tim, scout halls

1933 Flood, War Memorial Charlton with Mechanics Institute behind.War Memorial 1933 flood with Mechanics Institute in backgroundflood, charlton, mechanics institure, war memorial

Mechanics Institute Main Street Stawell. Used for many years as the library. Two coloured photos 1992.Five photographs of Mechanics institute Upper Main Streetstawell

Sheep Hills is located Sheep Hills in the northern Wimmera region, north-west Victoria between Warracknabeal and Minyip.The Sheep Hills Mechanics' Institute was established in 1888.Weatherboard Mechanics' Institute at Sheep Hills Victoriasheep hills, sheep hills mechanics' institute

Contains a brief history of the European settlement of Arthurs Creek from 1844 and the Mechanics Institute from 1887. It includes the Mechanics Institute's important role in community activities.Celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute and Free Library.33 p., illus. Front cover shows the Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute.arthurs creek mechanics institute, bruce draper, arthurs creek

A Mechanics Institute in Bacchus Marsh dates from sometime in the 1850s. The first Mechanics Institute Hall was erected in 1858 in Young Street.(Victorian Collections no.659.) In 1883 a new and larger Mechanics Institute Hall was built in Main Street. The new hall cost 2,000 pounds to construct. It was opened by Sir William Clarke on 21 November 1883. The Mechanics Institute Library and rooms at the front of the hall were removed when the building was renovated in 1971. The building still stands and is used as a public hall.Small black and white '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 substantial brick building under construction. Scaffolding support poles line the front and also can be seen on the top and back of the building. On the rooftop stand three workmen, with a further seven men standing at the front. Three men lean or stand casually at the front in casual poses. Four men stand in a line in another group on the roadway, perhaps indicating that they are master craftsmen. One of these men holds a tool of his trade, resembling a bricklayer’s mortar board. Six boys can be seen, four in a rather jaunty pose. In an indication of its public significance, the four front windows and door are arched and have decorative stone work in the side panels. A picket fence marks the boundary of the adjacent block.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, mechanics institutes, halls, bacchus marsh mechanics institute

This book of illustrated copies of The Graphic, a London weekly newspaper, was once part of the book collection of the Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library, Warrnambool.Book, titled “The Graphic”, Jan 2nd to June 25th 1904, Volume 69 (LXIX). Large, hard covered, book, dark green. Book’s cover has the textured appearance of crocodile skin. The spine and corners are bound in leather. The book holds issues of a weekly London illustrated newspaper. It once belonged to The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library (their accession number 6661). Label inside front cover “The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library”. Penciled on the label’s heading Accession Number “6661”.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, the graphic illustrated newspaper, the graphic london 1904, warrnambool mechanics institute and free library, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, book