Historical information

The Bendigo Mechanics Institute (also known as the Sandhurst Mechanics Institute) operated until 1904 when it was closed, and its library transferred to the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries.
Richard Hartley Smith Abbott, company director, was born, probably in Bendigo, Victoria, around 1859, the son of Richard Hartley Abbott, also a company director, and Ann, née Smith. The young Richard was educated at Bendigo High School and then at St Andrews, Scotland. Returning to Australia, he became proprietor of the Abbott Supply Company, a 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

Physical description

Grey coloured cardboard with black printing and writing.
Sandhurst Mechanics' Institute & Free Library 10th April 1884
Sir
Your attendance is required at a meeting of the Finance Committee, to be held on the 14 tenth at 7.30 o'clock
Yours respectfully D. T. Rogers, Secretary
Mr. R. H. S Abbott
Business General
Written on the back......... Invoices January 1st to June 30th