The Bendigo School of Mines was opened in 1873 following the first report of the Technological Commission in 1869 which recommended the establishment of schools of design and science to meet the scientific and technical needs of the mining industry on the local gold fields. Initially mining, chemistry, geology, metallurgy and art were taught while a separate school of design was established in c. 1870 but incorporated into the School of Mines around 1883 when it was renamed as the School of Mines and Industry. In 1904 The Mechanics Institute was liquidated and its assets and buildings acquired by the School of Mines. Around 1907 a Junior Technical School commenced to operate at the School of Mines and Industry but ceased operating in 1961 with that function being transferred to the White Hills and Kangaroo Flat Technical Schools. The Bendigo School of Mines and Industry became known as the Bendigo Technical College from the 1st July 1959. It operated under that name until February 1967 when it became the Bendigo Institute of Technology (B.I.T.). Construction work commenced in c.1965 which saw the Institute progressively re-locate to new buildings at Flora Hill. (Fn: https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VA3091) Richard Hartley Smith Abbott was the step son of Joseph Henry Abbott and continued on in the family tradition of entering into business. He was elected a representative in the Mandurang riding in the Shire of Strathfieldsaye in 1887, served as Mayor of the City of Bendigo from 1917 - 1918 and was Secretary of the Bendigo Art Gallery for over 20 years. His father Joseph Abbot had been a member of the School of Mines Administrative Council and RH Abbott served as President of the School of Mines for two years and was a highly regarded business man within the local community. The School of Mines and Industries would have written to him asking him to intervene to ensure that their reputation remained intact.Handwritten letter by the registrar from the School of Mines to R H S Abbott on lightly lined writing paper.city of greater bendigo education, city of greater bendigo mining, mayor rhs abbott, shire of strathfieldsaye, bendigo art gallery

Brown soft covered book of 68 pages.non-fictionschool of mines and industries bendigo, bendigo school of mines, g. alec. thomson, alexander purdie, charles cohen, o. penfold, alexander bayne, john quick, w.v. vahland, j.h. abbott, r.h>s. abbott, hugh boyd, jacob cohn, j.h. curnow, john garlick, george hawke, william hicks, johan sarvaas, f.m. peebles, a.b. clement, l.b. mcgrath, r.b. brennan

Richard Hartley Smith Abbott b 1858 – d 1940 Born in Bendigo, his mother remarried Joseph Henry Abbott in1860 after his father died. He adopted his stepfathers surname in 1884. Abbott attended Bendigo High School and St Andrews Scotland. Returning to Australia in 1879 he became proprietor of the Abbott Supply Company, a had a variety of business interests including Director of the Sandhurst Building Society, the Bendigo Gas Company, and several local mining enterprises. He owned farms at Lyell, Mandurang and Eppalock, and was a pioneer of lucerne cultivation and tanning. In 1887, Abbott became a councillor for Strathfieldsaye Shire, a position he held for fifteen years. He was Shire President (1901–02) and a Bendigo City councillor (1904–09; 1913–19), serving as Mayor of Bendigo between 1917 and 1918. Co-founder and President of Bendigo Art Gallery and originator of the RHS Bequest Fund to support acquisitions. Abbott Court a section of the gallery is named in his honour. In 1884, Abbott married Mary Hannah Gibbs and together they had eight children. Vincent Kelly(1877–1958) was a local photographer and proprietor of a successful commercial photographic studio in Bendigo active from 1904 - 1958. Three quarter studio photographic portrait of Cr R.H.S. Abbott wearing fur collared mayoral robes and chain. Photograph has hand painted details. Inscribed title panel centre under photograph. Window mounted. Gold ornate frame. Cr R.H.S. Abbott / Mayor of Bendigo 1917 - 18 / Recto lr: 'Vincent Kelly Bendigo' cr r.h. s. abbott, mayor abbott, vincent kelly

A black and white programme with the words, ' Under the auspices of a Bendigo Citizens, Committee. Friday, April 30th, 1909. His Worship the Major, Cr. A. Harkness, Chairman. Cr. L. Semmens, Vice-Chairman. The Hon. R.H S. Abbott, M.L.C., Hon. Sec. Mr. Henry Thomas (Basso Cantante.) Miss Elsy Treweek, soprano. Master W.A. Bennett, solo violin, Mr. E.H. Collett, Tenor Mr. W. Tinkler's Masonic Choir. Accompanists Miss Ella Nicol, Muss Frances Leary. Lipp Piano kindly lent by Messrs, Flight & Co. Inside is the programme itself and on the back cover are some quotes from newspapers relevant to Mr. Henry Thomas.program, music, singing, lydia chancellor, collection, music, event, performing arts, entertainment, programme, program