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Mechanics' institutes of Australia

February 14, 2024

Mechanics' institutes were a Victorian-era institution set up primarily to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working-class men, which spread to the corners of the English-speaking world, including the Australian colonies, where they were set up in virtually every colony. In some places, notably throughout the colonies of Queensland and New South Wales, they were often known as schools of arts.

Rockhampton School of Arts, Rockhampton, Qld

Most institutes incorporated a library, and many of the old institutes evolved into public lending libraries, while others were converted for other uses or demolished to make way for modern buildings. This article includes a list of many past mechanics' institutes / schools of arts.

Background edit

The foundations of the movement which created mechanics' institutes were in lectures given by George Birkbeck (1776–1841). His fourth annual lecture attracted a crowd of 500, and became an annual occurrence after his departure for London in 1804, leading to the eventual formation[1] on 16 October 1821[2] of the first mechanics' institute in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh School of Arts (later Heriot-Watt University[2]).[3][4] Its first lecture was on chemistry, and within a month it was subscribed to by 452 men who each paid a quarterly subscription fee.[5] This new model of technical educational institution gave classes for working men, and included libraries as well as apparatus to be used for experiments and technical education,[1] and by 1900 there were over 9,000 mechanics institutes around the world.[5]

Mechanics' Institutes were sometimes called schools of arts in the Australian colonies, especially Queensland. The purpose of forming such institutes was to improve the education of working men, and to instruct them in various trades. They were also part of a wider 19th-century movement promoting popular education in Britain, at which time co-operative societies, working men's colleges and the university extension movement were established. The call for popular education in turn can be contextualised within the broader liberal, laissez-faire, non-interventionist philosophy which dominated British social, economic and political ideologies in the 19th century. In this environment, mechanics' institutes flourished as a means by which working men might improve their lot, either through self-education using the reading rooms in the institutes, or by participating in instructional classes organised and funded by institute members.[6]

In Australia, mechanics' institutes were often run by the middle classes. The provision of reading rooms, museums, lectures and classes were still important, but the Australian institutions were also more likely to include a social programme in their calendar of events.[6][7]

The first mechanics' institute in the Australian colonies was established in Hobart in 1827, followed by the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts[8] in 1833, Newcastle School of Arts in 1835, then the Melbourne Mechanics' Institute established in 1839 (renamed the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873). From the 1850s, mechanics' institutes quickly spread throughout Victoria wherever a hall, library or school was needed. Over 1200 mechanics' institutes were built in Victoria but just over 500 remain today, and only six still operated their lending library services as of 2010.[9]

21st century revival edit

Across the world, there is a move to sustain and revive mechanics' institutes and related institutions such as athenaeums and schools of art, as subscription libraries, sometimes incorporating or expanding their earlier functions. There have been several worldwide conferences between 2004 and 2021, known as the Mechanics' Worldwide Conference, of representatives of, or people who have an interest in, mechanics' institutes.[10][11]

In the state of Victoria, a group of Mechanics' Institute representatives met in April 1998 at the institute in Kilmore to exchange information and ideas about the future of their organisations, at a conference entitled Mechanics' Institutes: The Way Forward. From this arose an association, the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria, whose aim it is for mechanics' institutes to again play an important social and cultural role in their communities, as they did in the past.[10] Mackay School of Arts

By state edit

 
Sydney School of Arts, 1869

New South Wales edit

 
Epping School of Arts

The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, established in 1833, is the oldest school of arts in continuous operation, and largest in Australia[12] Other institutes in New South Wales include:

Queensland edit

 
Maryborough School of Arts

South Australia edit

 
Institute Building, State Library of South Australia
 
Port Adelaide Institute
 
Mitcham Village Institute
Further information: State Library of South Australia § 19th century

There were two iterations of the Adelaide Mechanics' Institute in Adelaide, South Australia. The first was based on the traditional working-men's educational model (founded 1838; merged with Adelaide Literary and Scientific Association and Mechanics' Institute in 1839, folded 1844). The second was led by schoolteacher W.A. Cawthorne, founded in 1847,[41] This organisation merged with the South Australian Library in 1848, creating the Mechanics' Institute and South Australian Library.[42][43] and was the forerunner of the State Library of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the Art Gallery of South Australia.[44][45][46]

Between 1847 and 1856, thirteen further institutes came into existence:[46]

The South Australian Institute, incorporated under the South Australian Institute Act of 1856,[47] became the support and lead organisation for the 350 institutes in South Australia. In 1975, the state government phased out funding for the institutes, replacing them with free school-community libraries, while local public libraries were supported by local governments. The Institutes Association ceased to exist in 1988; however, most of the old institute buildings remain, many as heritage-listed buildings.[46]

Later mechanics' institutes in South Australia included:[48]

Tasmania edit

  • The earliest and most prominent institute ïn Tasmania was Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution, also known as Hobart Town Mechanics' Institute, Hobart (1827–1871), co-founded by George Augustus Robinson.[51][52] The institute had a shaky start, but after the Presbyterian minister John Lillie became president in 1839, his lectures became very popular, described as "the high-water mark of learning publicly disseminated in the colony". However, it was not attended by working-class men, as the institute had gained a reputation for elitism and paternalism. After going bankrupt, it folded in 1871.[7]
  • Launceston Mechanics' Institute, Launceston, co-founded in 1842 by Congregational minister, journalist and historian John West and designed by eminent New Zealand-born architect W. H. Clayton, was a very successful institute. When it was demolished in 1971, its books were given to the public library.[7]

Others included:

There were other similar institutions, although not called mechanics' institutes, but with similar aims, at Bellerive, Campbell Town, Devon, Glenora, Green Ponds, Hamilton-on-Forth, Lefroy, Oatlands, Sorell, Stanley and Wynyard; and the Tasmanian Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Launceston, 1831), the Tasmanian Society for the Acquisition of Useful Knowledge (Hobart Town, 1845), and the Mechanics' School of Arts (Hobart Town, 1850) were also focused on providing similar educational functions.[7]

Most of the institutes in Tasmania became social and cultural centres for the middle classes, including women. Over time, musical performances and various entertainments, such as penny readings took precedence over lectures, and their original educational aims were forgotten. Many of the buildings have however survived, now used as community centres or libraries.[7]

Victoria edit

 
Melbourne Athenaeum
 
Lilydale Mechanics Institute
 
Sorrento Institute

Many mechanics' institutes, athenaeums, schools of arts and related institutions are well documented by the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria, Inc., whose members range from the well-resourced Melbourne Athenaeum to the tiny Moonambel Mechanics' Institute in Moonambel.[54]

Past and present institutes in Victoria include:

Western Australia edit

 
Looking west along Hay Street, the original Swan River MI building

The Swan River Mechanics' Institute, situated in Perth, was the first such organisation formed in the colony on 21 January 1851, followed by the Fremantle Mechanics Institute on 8 August 1851.[76]

Other mechanics' institutes include:

References edit

  1. ^ a b Smith, Mark K. (1997). . The encyclopaedia of informal education. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Mechanics Institute Worldwide 2021". Heriot-Watt University. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  3. ^ Kelly, Thomas (November 1952). "The Origin of Mechanics' Institutes". British Journal of Educational Studies. Society for Educational Studies. 1 (1): 17–27. doi:10.2307/3119430. JSTOR 3119430.
  4. ^ "What is a Mechanics' Institute?". Prahran Mechanics' Institute. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "[Home page]". Mechanics Institutes. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Old Town Hall (entry 600566)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 31 December 2021.   Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Petrow, Stefan. "Mechanics' Institutes". The Companion to Tasmanian History. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  8. ^ "SMSA (Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts)". SMSA.
  9. ^ Lowden, Bronwyn (2010). Mechanics' Institutes, Schools of Arts, Athenaeums, etc.: An Australian Checklist – 3rd Edition. Donvale, Australia: Lowden Publishing Co. pp. 64–111. ISBN 978-1-920753-16-0.
  10. ^ a b "History of Mechanics' Institutes". Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Mechanics' Worldwide". Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Inc. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  12. ^ Wotherspoon, Garry (2008). "Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts". The Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  13. ^ Bathurst School of Arts Act 1858.
  14. ^ Berry School of Arts.
  15. ^ Freyne, Catherine. The School of Arts movement. Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 2010.
  16. ^ Blacktown School of Arts
  17. ^ "BOURKE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE". Western Herald. Vol. XXX, no. 1644. New South Wales, Australia. 18 July 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ a b The Libraries of Schools of Arts and Mechanics’ Institutes: Time Capsules of Australian Book Collections..
  19. ^ Burrawang School of Arts
  20. ^ Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 3 June 1922, p.8.
  21. ^ Fairfield School of Arts 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ Glebe School of Arts
  23. ^ Cole, David (7 February 2017). "The history behind the Mechanics Institute, as featured in the Post's 2017 calendar". Goulburn Post. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  24. ^ The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser Saturday 19 July 1902 page 2.
  25. ^ Morris, Roger. 'Sydney suburban Schools of Arts: From and for the community' in Schools of Arts and Mechanics' Institutes: From and for the community – Proceedings of a National Conference, University of Technology, Sydney, 2002, p.79.
  26. ^ "Mechanics Institute". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00485. Retrieved 18 May 2018.   Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  27. ^ 5 Eliza Street 22 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine recycled
  28. ^ Peakhurst School of Arts.
  29. ^ Penrith School of Arts
  30. ^ "School of Arts". The Dancing Dragon. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  31. ^ Rooty Hill 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine at Blacktown City Council webpage.
  32. ^ St Albans School of Art Hall.
  33. ^ Hunter River General (NewsPaper) 16 July 1870 p2.
  34. ^ Wagga Wagga School of Arts
  35. ^ Wentworth Falls School of Arts Archived 2 February 2015 at archive.today.
  36. ^ Wentworth Falls School of Arts.
  37. ^ School of Arts Hall, Wilberforce.
  38. ^ Windsor School of Arts.
  39. ^ Council, Mackay Regional (20 August 2015). "History of our Libraries". www.mackay.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  40. ^ "MONTO SHIRE COUNCIL". Morning Bulletin. No. 22927. Queensland, Australia. 20 May 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 20 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ Cooper, Janet K. (June 1970). The Foundation of Culture in Adelaide: A Study of the First Colonists' Transplantation of Ideas and Art: 181836–1857 (MA). University of Adelaide. pp. 2–30. hdl:2440/113377. PDF
  42. ^ "VII.—Educational". South Australian Advertiser. No. 27 October. 1863. p. 4.
  43. ^ "South Australian Institute". South Australian Advertiser. 27 October 1863. p. 4. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  44. ^ "A Brief History of the South Australian Museum" (PDF). South Australian Museum. 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  45. ^ "About Institutes of SA" (Video). Institutes of South Australia. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  46. ^ a b c Hancock, Joelie (Winter–Spring 2021). "Beginnings of Institutes in South Australia". Useful Knowledge. Mechanics' Institute of Victoria (55): 20–21. Retrieved 3 January 2022 – via Institutes Of South Australia.
  47. ^ "History of the State Library of South Australia: Board members & legislation". State Library of South Australia. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  48. ^ "Institutes Listed by Alphabet". Institutes of South Australia. 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  49. ^ "Dawson Hall and iron sign celebrating the centenary of the town. Flinders Ranges South Australia". 17 November 2016 – via Flickr.
  50. ^ "Kensington and Norwood". Institutes of South Australia. 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  51. ^ Catalogue of the library of the Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution. Printed by William Pratt. 1843 – via Open Access Repository, University of Tasmania.
  52. ^ "Hobart Town Mechanics Institute (1827–1871) – Corporate entry". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  53. ^ "Mechanics Institute, Lansdowne Crescent". West Hobart. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  54. ^ "Victorian Members". Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  55. ^ Mechanics’ Institutes March 29, 2017 | historicalragbag
  56. ^ Ballarat Mechanics' Institute
  57. ^ Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library
  58. ^ Bonnie Doon Community Centre
  59. ^ "FMI Library". fmilibrary.org.
  60. ^ A History of Mechanics' Institute Libraries.
  61. ^ . mrsc.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  62. ^ Little River Mechanics' Institute
  63. ^ ["MAFFRA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE". Gippsland Times. No. 4, 187. Victoria, Australia. 12 September 1892. p. 3 (Morning.). Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.]
  64. ^ Maldon Athenaeum Library
  65. ^ Chris Healy, From the Ruins of Colonialism: History as Social Memory (CUP, 1997) page 204.
  66. ^ These Walls Speak Volumes: A history of Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria by Pam Baragwanath and Ken James ISBN 9780992308780
  67. ^ Stanley Athenaeum and Public Room
  68. ^ Talbot Community Library & Arts Centre
  69. ^ "UPPER MAFFRA". Gippsland Times. No. 2752. Victoria, Australia. 8 December 1882. p. 3 (Morning.). Retrieved 15 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  70. ^ "Romsey Mechanics Institute".
  71. ^ Trove.
  72. ^ Sydney Morning Herald 9 October 1933 page 6.
  73. ^ Catherine Freyne, 2010 The School of Arts movement.
  74. ^ Sunny Corner School of Arts Trust.
  75. ^ "The Warrandyte Mechanics Institute Hall". WMIAA. WMIAA. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  76. ^ "Fremantle". The Inquirer. 13 August 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  77. ^ a b c d e f g h John Hay (1981). "Literature and Society". A New History of Western Australia. p. 607. ISBN 0-85564-181-9.
  78. ^ "Mechanics Institute". Lost Katanning. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  79. ^ "About". Old Mill Theatre. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  80. ^ "Places Database". Heritage Council of WA. 14 November 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2022.

February 14, 2024
mechanics, institutes, australia, mechanics, institutes, were, victorian, institution, primarily, provide, adult, education, particularly, technical, subjects, working, class, which, spread, corners, english, speaking, world, including, australian, colonies, w. Mechanics institutes were a Victorian era institution set up primarily to provide adult education particularly in technical subjects to working class men which spread to the corners of the English speaking world including the Australian colonies where they were set up in virtually every colony In some places notably throughout the colonies of Queensland and New South Wales they were often known as schools of arts Rockhampton School of Arts Rockhampton QldMost institutes incorporated a library and many of the old institutes evolved into public lending libraries while others were converted for other uses or demolished to make way for modern buildings This article includes a list of many past mechanics institutes schools of arts Contents 1 Background 2 21st century revival 3 By state 3 1 New South Wales 3 2 Queensland 3 3 South Australia 3 4 Tasmania 3 5 Victoria 3 6 Western Australia 4 ReferencesBackground editThe foundations of the movement which created mechanics institutes were in lectures given by George Birkbeck 1776 1841 His fourth annual lecture attracted a crowd of 500 and became an annual occurrence after his departure for London in 1804 leading to the eventual formation 1 on 16 October 1821 2 of the first mechanics institute in Edinburgh the Edinburgh School of Arts later Heriot Watt University 2 3 4 Its first lecture was on chemistry and within a month it was subscribed to by 452 men who each paid a quarterly subscription fee 5 This new model of technical educational institution gave classes for working men and included libraries as well as apparatus to be used for experiments and technical education 1 and by 1900 there were over 9 000 mechanics institutes around the world 5 Mechanics Institutes were sometimes called schools of arts in the Australian colonies especially Queensland The purpose of forming such institutes was to improve the education of working men and to instruct them in various trades They were also part of a wider 19th century movement promoting popular education in Britain at which time co operative societies working men s colleges and the university extension movement were established The call for popular education in turn can be contextualised within the broader liberal laissez faire non interventionist philosophy which dominated British social economic and political ideologies in the 19th century In this environment mechanics institutes flourished as a means by which working men might improve their lot either through self education using the reading rooms in the institutes or by participating in instructional classes organised and funded by institute members 6 In Australia mechanics institutes were often run by the middle classes The provision of reading rooms museums lectures and classes were still important but the Australian institutions were also more likely to include a social programme in their calendar of events 6 7 The first mechanics institute in the Australian colonies was established in Hobart in 1827 followed by the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts 8 in 1833 Newcastle School of Arts in 1835 then the Melbourne Mechanics Institute established in 1839 renamed the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873 From the 1850s mechanics institutes quickly spread throughout Victoria wherever a hall library or school was needed Over 1200 mechanics institutes were built in Victoria but just over 500 remain today and only six still operated their lending library services as of 2010 9 21st century revival editAcross the world there is a move to sustain and revive mechanics institutes and related institutions such as athenaeums and schools of art as subscription libraries sometimes incorporating or expanding their earlier functions There have been several worldwide conferences between 2004 and 2021 known as the Mechanics Worldwide Conference of representatives of or people who have an interest in mechanics institutes 10 11 In the state of Victoria a group of Mechanics Institute representatives met in April 1998 at the institute in Kilmore to exchange information and ideas about the future of their organisations at a conference entitled Mechanics Institutes The Way Forward From this arose an association the Mechanics Institutes of Victoria whose aim it is for mechanics institutes to again play an important social and cultural role in their communities as they did in the past 10 Mackay School of ArtsBy state editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mechanics institutes of Australia news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Sydney School of Arts 1869New South Wales edit nbsp Epping School of ArtsThe Sydney Mechanics School of Arts established in 1833 is the oldest school of arts in continuous operation and largest in Australia 12 Other institutes in New South Wales include Albury Mechanics Institute Albury Arncliffe School of Arts hall Council Hall Balmain Workingmen s Institute closed Bathurst School of Arts 13 Batlow Literary Institute Berry School of Arts 14 Binalong Mechanics Institute Blacktown School of Arts established as the Blacktown Mutual Improvement Association 1905 15 16 Bourke School of Arts 17 Braidwood Literary Institute 18 Burrawang School of Arts 19 Buxton New South Wales Carlingford Mechanics Institute 20 Carlton School of Arts Cathcart Literary Institute Clarencetown School of Arts Mechanic Institute Hall Cookamidgera Cronulla School of Arts Epping School of Arts Epping New South Wales Fairfield School of Arts 21 Glebe School of Arts 22 Glen Oaks School of Arts Goulburn Mechanics Institute 1853 1946 23 Grafton School of Arts Library 18 Granville School of Arts now a college Grenfell Mechanics Institute Grenfell 24 Guildford Soldiers Memorial School of Arts Gundagai Literary Institute Gundagai Howlong Mechanics Institute Kogarah School of Arts 1886 25 Lawson Mechanics Institute Leichhardt School of Arts hall Hall Moruya Mechanics Institute 26 Nelligen Mechanics Institute Nelligen Newtown School of art 27 Oatley School of Arts 1905 Oatley Peakhurst School of Arts Peakhurst 28 Penrith School of Arts 29 Queanbeyan School of Arts Richmond School of Arts Rockdale School of Arts Rollands Plains School of Arts Hall Rooty Hill School of Arts 1903 30 31 Rozelle Mechanics Institute St Albans School of Arts hall 32 Scone School of Arts Scone Seaham School of Arts Singleton Mechanics Institute 33 Sunny Corner School of Arts Sunny Tenterfield School of Arts Trundle School of Arts 1914 1923 Wagga Wagga School of Arts 34 Wentworth Falls School of Arts 35 36 Wilberforce 37 Windsor School of Arts Bridge Street Thompson Square 38 Wingello Mechanics Institute Yass Mechanics Institute Yass Queensland edit nbsp Maryborough School of ArtsBaree School of Arts Brisbane School of Arts Bundaberg School of Arts Cairns School of Arts now the Cairns Museum Coorparoo School of Arts Eumundi School of Arts now the Eumundi and District Historical Association Gympie School of Arts now the Gympie Regional Gallery Herberton School of Arts Old Ipswich Town Hall Irvinebank School of Arts Hall Mackay School of Arts 39 Maryborough School of Arts Mungungo School of Arts 40 Numinbah Valley School of Arts Ravenswood School of Arts Rockhampton School of Arts Townsville School of Arts Woody Point Memorial Hall Yangan School of Arts South Australia edit nbsp Institute Building State Library of South Australia nbsp Port Adelaide Institute nbsp Mitcham Village InstituteFurther information State Library of South Australia 19th century There were two iterations of the Adelaide Mechanics Institute in Adelaide South Australia The first was based on the traditional working men s educational model founded 1838 merged with Adelaide Literary and Scientific Association and Mechanics Institute in 1839 folded 1844 The second was led by schoolteacher W A Cawthorne founded in 1847 41 This organisation merged with the South Australian Library in 1848 creating the Mechanics Institute and South Australian Library 42 43 and was the forerunner of the State Library of South Australia the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia 44 45 46 Between 1847 and 1856 thirteen further institutes came into existence 46 Hindmarsh North Adelaide Stepney Norwood Glen Osmond Gawler Gawler Mount Barker Clarendon Willunga Woodside Port Adelaide Institute Port Lincoln Port Elliot The South Australian Institute incorporated under the South Australian Institute Act of 1856 47 became the support and lead organisation for the 350 institutes in South Australia In 1975 the state government phased out funding for the institutes replacing them with free school community libraries while local public libraries were supported by local governments The Institutes Association ceased to exist in 1988 however most of the old institute buildings remain many as heritage listed buildings 46 Later mechanics institutes in South Australia included 48 Balaklava Institute Beachport Institute Cambrai Institute Cobdogla Institute Coonalpyn Institute Curramulka Institute Dawson Institute 49 Dublin Institute Edithburgh Institute Farrell Flat Institute Freeling Institute Hamley Bridge Institute Karoonda Kensington and Norwood Institute 50 Macclesfield Institute Mannum Institute Mintaro Institute Mitcham Village Institute Morgan Institute Mount Gambier Institute Owen Institute Pinnaroo Institute Port Vincent Institute Ramco Institute Saddleworth Institute Stansbury Memorial Institute Terowie Institute Waikerie Institute Wasleys Institute Tasmania edit The earliest and most prominent institute in Tasmania was Van Diemen s Land Mechanics Institution also known as Hobart Town Mechanics Institute Hobart 1827 1871 co founded by George Augustus Robinson 51 52 The institute had a shaky start but after the Presbyterian minister John Lillie became president in 1839 his lectures became very popular described as the high water mark of learning publicly disseminated in the colony However it was not attended by working class men as the institute had gained a reputation for elitism and paternalism After going bankrupt it folded in 1871 7 Launceston Mechanics Institute Launceston co founded in 1842 by Congregational minister journalist and historian John West and designed by eminent New Zealand born architect W H Clayton was a very successful institute When it was demolished in 1971 its books were given to the public library 7 Others included Don Mechanics Institute Don Tasmania 7 Ellesmere Mechanics Institute Ellesmere later Scottsdale 7 Emu Bay Mechanics Institute Burnie 7 Franklin Mechanics Institute Franklin 7 Huon Mechanics Institute 7 Port Esperance Mechanics Institute Port Esperance 7 Queenstown Mechanics Institute Queenstown 7 Ringarooma Mechanics Institute Ringarooma 7 Waratah Mechanics Institute Waratah 7 West Hobart Mechanics Institute West Hobart c 1890 still standing as of 2011 53 There were other similar institutions although not called mechanics institutes but with similar aims at Bellerive Campbell Town Devon Glenora Green Ponds Hamilton on Forth Lefroy Oatlands Sorell Stanley and Wynyard and the Tasmanian Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Launceston 1831 the Tasmanian Society for the Acquisition of Useful Knowledge Hobart Town 1845 and the Mechanics School of Arts Hobart Town 1850 were also focused on providing similar educational functions 7 Most of the institutes in Tasmania became social and cultural centres for the middle classes including women Over time musical performances and various entertainments such as penny readings took precedence over lectures and their original educational aims were forgotten Many of the buildings have however survived now used as community centres or libraries 7 Victoria edit nbsp Melbourne Athenaeum nbsp Lilydale Mechanics Institute nbsp Sorrento InstituteMany mechanics institutes athenaeums schools of arts and related institutions are well documented by the Mechanics Institutes of Victoria Inc whose members range from the well resourced Melbourne Athenaeum to the tiny Moonambel Mechanics Institute in Moonambel 54 Past and present institutes in Victoria include Alexandra School of Arts Alexandra Victoria Amphitheatre Mechanics Institute Amphitheatre Ballan Mechanics Institute 1860 55 Ballarat Mechanics Institute 56 Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library 1862 57 Bonnie Doon Community Centre 58 Briagolong Mechanics Institute Briagolong 1874 Brunswick Victoria Mechanics Institute Bunyip Mechanics Institute 1905 Footscray Mechanics Institute Footscray 59 Burke and Wills Institute Fryerstown 60 Glengarry Mechanics Institute 1886 Horsham Mechanics Institute Geelong Mechanics Institute Kilmore Mechanics Institute and Free Library Kyneton Mechanics Institute 61 Lancefield Mechanics Institute and Free Library Little River Mechanics Institute Little River 62 Long Gully Mechanics Institute Longwarry Mechanics Institute and Free Library 1886 Maffra Mechanics Institute 63 Maldon Athenaeum Library 64 Malmsbury Mechanics Institute 1862 Meeniyan Mechanics Institute 1892 Melbourne Athenaeum Library Melbourne Mechanics Institute 65 now part of the State Library of Victoria Prahran Mechanics Institute the only Mechanics Institute in Victoria which has its own Act of Parliament for its incorporation 66 Port Fairy Library and Lecture Hall Port Fairy 1860 Rosedale Mechanics Institute 1863 Rushworth Mechanics Institute Stanley Athenaeum and Public Room 67 Stratford Mechanics Institute 1866 Talbot Community Library amp Arts Centre 68 Wiiliamstown Mechanics Institute Tallarook Mechanics Institute Trafalgar Mechanics Institute and Free Library Trafalgar 1889 Toongabbie Mechanics Institute 1883 Upper Maffra Mechanics Institute 69 Charlton Mechanics Institute Drysdale Free Library Elmhurst Mechanics Institute Echuca Mechanics Institute Victoria Great Western Mechanics Institute Healesville Mechanics Institute Leongatha Mechanics Institute Lilydale Mechanics Institute Mornington Mechanics Institute Morongla Creek Mechanics Institute Hall Murrumburrah gallery Institute Macarthur Victoria Mechanisc Institute Hall Nagambie Mechanics Institute Riddells Creek Mechanics Institute Narre Warren Mechanics Institute 1891 Prahran Mechanics Institute Purlewaugh Mechanics Institute Purnim Mechanics Institute Purnim Mechanics Institute Sorrento Romsey Mechanics Institute 70 Richmond School of Arts 71 Guildford Soldiers Memorial School of Arts 72 Cronulla School of Arts Carlton School of Arts hall 73 Sunny Corner School of Arts 74 Cookamidgera Mechanics Institute Warrandyte Mechnanics Institute Warrandyte 75 Wambat Mechanics Institute Winiam Shire of Lowan Mechanis Institute Library Woodend Mechanics Institute Yandoit Mechanics Institute Western Australia edit nbsp Looking west along Hay Street the original Swan River MI buildingThe Swan River Mechanics Institute situated in Perth was the first such organisation formed in the colony on 21 January 1851 followed by the Fremantle Mechanics Institute on 8 August 1851 76 Other mechanics institutes include Albany 1853 77 Bunbury 1867 77 Busselton 1861 77 Greenough 1865 77 Guildford Mechanics Institute Guildford a suburb of Perth 1862 77 Katanning Mechanics Institute Katanning 78 Northam 1866 77 South Perth Mechanics Institute now Old Mill Theatre South Perth 1899 79 80 Toodyay 1866 77 York in 1861 77 References edit a b Smith Mark K 1997 George Birkbeck and the London Mechanics Institute The encyclopaedia of informal education Archived from the original on 17 August 2010 a b Mechanics Institute Worldwide 2021 Heriot Watt University 5 November 2021 Retrieved 31 December 2021 Kelly Thomas November 1952 The Origin of Mechanics Institutes British Journal of Educational Studies Society for Educational Studies 1 1 17 27 doi 10 2307 3119430 JSTOR 3119430 What is a Mechanics Institute Prahran Mechanics Institute 8 November 2012 Retrieved 4 July 2020 a b Home page Mechanics Institutes 25 May 2021 Retrieved 31 December 2021 a b Old Town Hall entry 600566 Queensland Heritage Register Queensland Heritage Council Retrieved 31 December 2021 nbsp Text may have been copied from this source which is available under a Attribution 4 0 International CC BY 4 0 licence a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Petrow Stefan Mechanics Institutes The Companion to Tasmanian History University of Tasmania Retrieved 2 January 2022 SMSA Sydney Mechanics School of Arts SMSA Lowden Bronwyn 2010 Mechanics Institutes Schools of Arts Athenaeums etc An Australian Checklist 3rd Edition Donvale Australia Lowden Publishing Co pp 64 111 ISBN 978 1 920753 16 0 a b History of Mechanics Institutes Mechanics Institutes of Victoria Inc Retrieved 1 January 2022 Mechanics Worldwide Mechanics Institutes of Victoria Inc 15 October 2021 Retrieved 1 January 2022 Wotherspoon Garry 2008 Sydney Mechanics School of Arts The Dictionary of Sydney Retrieved 31 December 2021 Bathurst School of Arts Act 1858 Berry School of Arts Freyne Catherine The School of Arts movement Sydney Mechanics School of Arts 2010 Blacktown School of Arts BOURKE MECHANICS INSTITUTE Western Herald Vol XXX no 1644 New South Wales Australia 18 July 1903 p 2 Retrieved 7 May 2018 via National Library of Australia a b The Libraries of Schools of Arts and Mechanics Institutes Time Capsules of Australian Book Collections Burrawang School of Arts Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 3 June 1922 p 8 Fairfield School of Arts Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Glebe School of Arts Cole David 7 February 2017 The history behind the Mechanics Institute as featured in the Post s 2017 calendar Goulburn Post Retrieved 4 January 2022 The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser Saturday 19 July 1902 page 2 Morris Roger Sydney suburban Schools of Arts From and for the community in Schools of Arts and Mechanics Institutes From and for the community Proceedings of a National Conference University of Technology Sydney 2002 p 79 Mechanics Institute New South Wales State Heritage Register Department of Planning amp Environment H00485 Retrieved 18 May 2018 nbsp Text is licensed by State of New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment under CC BY 4 0 licence 5 Eliza Street Archived 22 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine recycled Peakhurst School of Arts Penrith School of Arts School of Arts The Dancing Dragon Retrieved 2 January 2022 Rooty Hill Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine at Blacktown City Council webpage St Albans School of Art Hall Hunter River General NewsPaper 16 July 1870 p2 Wagga Wagga School of Arts Wentworth Falls School of Arts Archived 2 February 2015 at archive today Wentworth Falls School of Arts School of Arts Hall Wilberforce Windsor School of Arts Council Mackay Regional 20 August 2015 History of our Libraries www mackay qld gov au Retrieved 6 October 2022 MONTO SHIRE COUNCIL Morning Bulletin No 22927 Queensland Australia 20 May 1940 p 4 Retrieved 20 October 2022 via National Library of Australia Cooper Janet K June 1970 The Foundation of Culture in Adelaide A Study of the First Colonists Transplantation of Ideas and Art 181836 1857 MA University of Adelaide pp 2 30 hdl 2440 113377 PDF VII Educational South Australian Advertiser No 27 October 1863 p 4 South Australian Institute South Australian Advertiser 27 October 1863 p 4 Retrieved 18 May 2019 A Brief History of the South Australian Museum PDF South Australian Museum 2004 Retrieved 18 May 2019 About Institutes of SA Video Institutes of South Australia 16 September 2021 Retrieved 3 January 2022 a b c Hancock Joelie Winter Spring 2021 Beginnings of Institutes in South Australia Useful Knowledge Mechanics Institute of Victoria 55 20 21 Retrieved 3 January 2022 via Institutes Of South Australia History of the State Library of South Australia Board members amp legislation State Library of South Australia 1 December 2021 Retrieved 3 January 2022 Institutes Listed by Alphabet Institutes of South Australia 2021 Retrieved 4 January 2022 Dawson Hall and iron sign celebrating the centenary of the town Flinders Ranges South Australia 17 November 2016 via Flickr Kensington and Norwood Institutes of South Australia 2021 Retrieved 4 January 2022 Catalogue of the library of the Van Diemen s Land Mechanics Institution Printed by William Pratt 1843 via Open Access Repository University of Tasmania Hobart Town Mechanics Institute 1827 1871 Corporate entry Encyclopedia of Australian Science 12 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2022 Mechanics Institute Lansdowne Crescent West Hobart 7 May 2019 Retrieved 2 January 2022 Victorian Members Mechanics Institutes of Victoria Inc Retrieved 1 January 2022 Mechanics Institutes March 29 2017 historicalragbag Ballarat Mechanics Institute Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library Bonnie Doon Community Centre FMI Library fmilibrary org A History of Mechanics Institute Libraries Kyneton Mechanics Institute mrsc vic gov au Archived from the original on 27 December 2014 Retrieved 27 December 2014 Little River Mechanics Institute MAFFRA MECHANICS INSTITUTE Gippsland Times No 4 187 Victoria Australia 12 September 1892 p 3 Morning Retrieved 15 October 2022 via National Library of Australia Maldon Athenaeum Library Chris Healy From the Ruins of Colonialism History as Social Memory CUP 1997 page 204 These Walls Speak Volumes A history of Mechanics Institutes in Victoria by Pam Baragwanath and Ken James ISBN 9780992308780 Stanley Athenaeum and Public Room Talbot Community Library amp Arts Centre UPPER MAFFRA Gippsland Times No 2752 Victoria Australia 8 December 1882 p 3 Morning Retrieved 15 October 2022 via National Library of Australia Romsey Mechanics Institute Trove Sydney Morning Herald 9 October 1933 page 6 Catherine Freyne 2010 The School of Arts movement Sunny Corner School of Arts Trust The Warrandyte Mechanics Institute Hall WMIAA WMIAA Retrieved 8 October 2015 Fremantle The Inquirer 13 August 1851 p 2 Retrieved 4 September 2013 a b c d e f g h John Hay 1981 Literature and Society A New History of Western Australia p 607 ISBN 0 85564 181 9 Mechanics Institute Lost Katanning 9 June 2021 Retrieved 1 January 2022 About Old Mill Theatre Retrieved 1 January 2022 Places Database Heritage Council of WA 14 November 2000 Retrieved 1 January 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mechanics 27 institutes of Australia amp oldid 1181832979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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