Yet More Wesson Photos identified

All these shots can be found in Pam's book. Click on the image to get a closer look.

More Wesson photos identified

We've been making great progress. Thanks very much to everyone who has helped.To have a larger clearer picture of the institutes, just click on the picture.

Catalogue of Vanished Objects

Every little town has it's local museum, but unfortunately Bendigo, with all it's celebrated gold history, has no museum. Now.
It's not generally realised that Bendigo at one time had a museum of international repute, attracting 20,000 visitors a year in the 1880's.
The museum was at the Bendigo School of Mines, which was founded by the Sandhurst Mechanics Institute in 1872.
It had an incredible geological collection, as well as flora, fauna, and many artefacts of local aboriginal tribes, gold miners, and all sorts of miscellany.
It's exact contents have been a mystery - until now. A microfiche has been discovered of a handwritten catalogue of exhibits, running to hundreds of pages.
Below is an excerpt detailing aboriginal implements found on local properties.
I'll post updates as the catalogue is examined.Now the search is on for the original!

Update on the Wesson Photos

There has been a lot of good work accomplished on identifying the Wesson photos (see post of 13th October).
As well as Judith, Pam and Peter, Linda Barraclough, Lorraine Huddle, Janette Hodgson, and Joan Hunt from RHSV have all pitched in as well.
The identified ones are as below



Cowwarr, Gippsland 1960's

And now,(photo from Janette Hodgson)

Sale, Gippsland

Illabarook, Ballarat district

Smythesdale, Central Victoria


Trentham 1960's

Trentham today (photo courtesy Peter Pereya)

Andrew Carnegie Legacy

Here's and interesting article on the role Andrew carnegie played in the endowment of Institute and public libraries

Speaking of interesting information on the title pages of books (see previous post), this copy of Balthazar, by Balzac indicates that it was recatalogued no less than five times in the space of twenty years. The book is from the Sandhurst Mechanics Institute.

Sidney Myer part of Australian library heritage

At the end of next month I'm doing a presentation for a local service club, about the role of Sidney Myer in Bendigo's history.

His exploits in haberdashery in Bendigo are known (not well known though), and I'll also cover his membership of the Sandhurst Mechanics Institute.

When I prepare the powerpoint, I'll post it to the blog

I've been everywhere, man...

I was recently assessing some items in the collection at Eaglehawk Mechanics Institute in Central Victoria, and came across this book - How Can I Forget? by Jan Tempest - a popular novel from the 1930s.
The interesting thing was the books stamps on the title page:

Roundabout Book Club, Caulfield.
G.R. McGie, Charlton.
Stan Hall, South Yarra.
Taylors Pharmacy, Apollo Bay.
Tresgrove Library, Apollo Bay.
Murchison Mechanics Institute.

All these libraries are long gone, but this book and others like it provide testament to the role these small commercial libraries and Institutes played in the cultural life of our communities.

And that's an amazing journey for a humble romance novel!

Alfred Wesson Mystery Photos

In the 1960s photograper Alfred Wesson photographed all known Mechanics Institutes in Victoria. Many of his splendid photo's can be seen in Pam Baragwanath's book 'If the Walls Could Speak'.

Unfortunately, many of his photos were not labelled, and so remain a tantalising, if mysterious, record of what was then a dissapearing part of the urban and rural landscape.

In an effort to see if we can identify these institutes, MIV has loaded them on to Flickr so you can help us identify them.

If you recognise any of them, email the details, along with the number of thye photo to pbarag@alphalink.com.au or p.thompson@latrobe.edu.au.

Royal Historical Society of Victoria Seminar Day at Kyneton

A very interesting day was held at the Bowling Club in Kyneton on Saturday. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria held a seminar covering a wide range of topics, chiefly focussed on Mechanics Institutes.

Jim Lowden presented an inspiring and comprehensive overview of the history of Mechanics Instititutes, and in the afternoon, tour of the Kyneton Mechanics Institute was led by Laurene from the Kyneton Historical Society.

The Institute is a fascinating treasure-trove of artifacts and original fixtures and fittings, with many library books and other records held.

The Institute has a fine example of the 'biobox', a room added for the operation of a cineme projector.

Many fine examples of typical MI library books are housed in storage in the hall.

The Institute also features a fantastic example of balcony seating in the cinema/theatre

Ninth Australian Library History Conference

The Mechanics Institutes of Victoria and Monash University Centre for the Book are proud to announce the Ninth Australian Library History Conference

Mechanics Institutes on Google Maps

Something to while away a few minutes – If you have a copy of Pam baragwanaths book – ‘If The Walls Could Speak’ you can use Google maps to find those obscure Mechanics Institutes, and some of them are even findable by the Street View feature – like the Winslow Hall attached

CELEBRATION OF THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYDNEY MECHANICS SCHOOL OF ARTS

This year marks the 175th Anniversary of the foundation of the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts. A series of events are panned to celebrate this most significant birthday.

A morning tea at Government House on Wednesday 26 March kicked off celebrations, attended by some 200 hundred members of the School at which Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW, became the Patron of the SMSA.

The next event will be on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th October (on 13 October 1831 Henry Carmichael and the Scottish mechanics arrived in Sydney on the good ship Stirling Castle).

In broad outline, the program will be:

Monday 13th October – commencing at 1.30pm a joyous yet serious celebration of the SMSA and the Broader School of Arts and Mechanics Institute movement in Australia. There will be two sessions of 120 minutes each [broken by afternoon tea] featuring short papers and presentations of say 15 to 20 minutes each. Then at 6.00pm a Reception of drinks and canapés will be held for friends of the SMSA. The reception should conclude by 7.30pm - the remainder of the evening is free.

Tuesday 14th October – a Coach Tour to visit Schools of Arts in the Hunter Valley to the west of Newcastle. Because of the distances involved the bus will leave the SMSA at 8.00am and not return until about 6.30pm.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BURKE AND WILLS

Dave Pheonix is planning on tracing the footsteps of Burke and Wills on their fateful 1860 expedition into the interior of Australia.

Pam Baragwanath reports that Dave Pheonix proved to be a most entertaining and informed speaker. Dave will be writing a book from his experiences, as part of his PHD.

Pam will meet him at the Mia Mia leg of the walk, hopefully with others from Mia Mia MI.

The picture shows Dave at the function at the Athanaeum.

Follow this link to find out more about Dave's adventure.

Vandals Attack Mechanics Institute!

In England, but still, something we all worry about. These stories about possible use of an old institute, and vandalism, are from Wiltshire.

Photo of Original Athanaeum Library Found Under House!

This story comes from the Melbourne Age If you click on the 'Multimedia' link under 'related coverage' at the bottom of the page, you will see a photo of the original Athanaeum in Collins Street Melbourne

More Photos from the 10th Anniversary!

Pam Baragwanath has been kind enough to forward some great pics from the 10th Anniversary dinner last week:

Jim and Pam led the assembled 'congregation' in stirring renditions of some Mechanics Institute songs.

Jim gave an excellent and inspiring speech after receiving his acheivement award.

And a great night was had by all

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10th Anniversary Celebrations

The Mechanics Institutes of Victoria recently celebrated ten years of protecting and promoting Victoria's Mechanics Institutes.

A great night was had by all at the Leveson in North Melbourne, offering a chance for everyone who has been involved with the MIV over the past ten years to catch up, review progress so far and acknowledge the fantastic contribution made by key individuals.

Jim Lowden from Kilmore was appropriately awarded a large framed Certificate recognising his leadership and commitment to MIV Inc.

The picture at left shows Dr. Frank Hurley holding aloft the award presented to Jim.

Life memberships were conferred on various hard-working members.

Dr.Frank Hurley (Ballarat), Catherine Milward-Bason (Prahran), Jim Lowden (Kilmore), Pam Baragwanath (MIV historian) and Graham Dudley were all presented with Certificates for the First Decade which read:

"MIV Inc. - the first decade of Inspiration and Achievement 1998-2008,
In appreciation of their commitment in laying the Foundation of the Mechanics'
Institutes of Victoria"

Pam Baragwanath (pictured right with Professor Wallace Kirsop) was presented
with the first MIV Fellowship

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