Used at School of Mines Ballarat. The Working Men’s College was founded in 1881 by a prominent grazier and philanthropist, The Hon. Francis Ormond, who donated £5000 towards the establishment of the college. The Council of the Melbourne Trades Hall then matched Ormond's initial donation by rallying its members. On 4 June 1887, the college opened in its purpose-built building on the corners of Bowen Street and La Trobe Street in Melbourne, with a gala ceremony. It became the third official provider of higher education in the new Colony of Victoria (the Melbourne Athenaeum was founded in 1839 and the University of Melbourne in 1853). The college was the predecessor to the current-day Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University). Adjoining the college in the 1890s were the Supreme Court of Victoria (later the Melbourne Magistrates' Court) and the Melbourne Gaol - both which are now part of RMIT today. A list of Scholarship Governors and Life Governors is included. The former have donated 250 Pounds Sterling and upwards, the later have donated 20 Pounds and over but less than 250 Pounds Sterling. The Patron of The Working Men's College was His Excellency The Right Honourable Lord Brassey. The President of the Council was Professor W C Kernot. Orange soft covered book with assorted photographs and advertisements.working mans college, melbourne, prospectus, w.c. kernot, c.s. paterson, f.h. bromley, j. nixon, b. douglass, w.e. murphy, james smith, thos smith, robert hayes, j.l. bagley, w.h. embling, john hancock, rev. j. reid, d. mcivor, a.j.arnot, c.e. oliver, e. findley, fred.a. campbell, r l jellery, president, council of 1898, hon francis ormond, philanthropist, 5000 pounds, melbourne trades hall, matched donation, patron, right hon. lord brassey, royal melbourne institute of technology, rmit, rmit university