Mechanics Institute - Ballarat

Mechanics Institute - Ballarat

Monday, 25 April 2011

‘Mechanics Institute Libraries in Victoria’


An association of the Mechanics' Institute of Victoria was formed in April 1998 by a group of Mechanics' Institute representatives that met to exchange information and ideas on the future of Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria. This conference was hosted by the Kilmore Mechanics' Institute and entitled ‘Mechanics' Institutes: The Way Forward, highlighted opportunities and difficulties experienced by the Mechanics' today’. The amalgamation of Shires across Victoria and the support of the Department for Victorian Communities have encouraged Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria to once again play a central role in their various communities; creating new opportunities for each Mechanics' Institute, Athenaeum, or School of Art, furthermore, exposing the importance of these adult education centres and their role in the districts’ social and cultural activities.



‘Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria – Burke and Wills Mechanics Institute, Fryerstown’

The local inhabitants of the gold town of Fryerstown built a memorial for Burke and Wills and raised a total £300 in November 1861. The foundation stone was laid in mid 1863 and the Mechanics Institute was completed within four months. The ‘Burke and Wills Mechanics Institute: online digital archive’ website is very educational and covers a vast range of information. The website provides information on: Myth and Myth information, 19th Century Calendar 1853-1875, Burke & Wills Historical Society, Burke & Wills Walk 2008, Burke & Wills brief history, Brief history by Dave Phoenix and Lockhart Morton, information on the Government, Victorian Government, Governors, Chief Secretaries, Ministers, NSW, QLD & SA Colonial Governments, Imperial Government, The philosophical Institute, Royal Society of Victoria, The Exploration Committee, Mueller’s talk on exploration and equipment list, Gregory’s letter to the committee, exploration committee 1857-1873, history of committee, committee meetings, presidents address 1860-1864, explorers history and their graves, Wills last letter, Burke’s last notes, Diaries and much more. Also, visitors to the website can access online e-books e.g. ‘Melbourne to the Gulf; A Brief History of the Burke and Wills Expedition’ by Dave Phoenix, 2011.


Burke & Wills mechanics Institute - Fryerstown



Mechanics’ Institute Website links

Arthurs Creek Mechanics' Institute
Ballarat Mechanics' Institute

Berwick Mechanics' Institute and Free Library Inc. http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/organisations/2923/berwick-mechanics-institute-free-library-inc/

Bethanga Soldiers Memorial Hall (Link not working)

Briagolong Mechanics' Institute

Brunswick Mechanics' Institute  
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/bmia1915326/

Charlton Golden Grains Museum (formerly Charlton Mechanics' Institute)

Chiltern Athenaeum

Dean Hall and Mechanics' Institute

Digby Public Hall

Fawcett Mechanics' Institute

Burke & Wills Mechanics' Institute, Fryerstown

Glenmaggie Mechanics' Institute

Kilmore Mechanics' Institute Inc

Malmsbury Mechanics' Institute (Malmsbury Historical Society)

Port Fairy Mechanics' Institute (Friends of the Library, Port Fairy)

Prahran Mechanics' Institute

Sorrento Mechanics' Institute - Nepean Historical Society

Tallarook Mechanics' Institute

Walhalla Mechanics' Institute

 And

Walhalla Gold




Process:



  • The process of selecting information to be included in this blog post was very time consuming but extremely enjoyable.

  • Looked through photo galleries of several Mechanics’ Institute websites and attached photos.

  • Wrote the text, hyperlinked websites to Mechanics Institute website links for this post and updated blog.

My Reflection on the Research Process:

  • I find that every time I research this topic I become more and more fascinated with the topic “Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria’ and I get some what distracted at times.  

  • I am still a little confused with the citation.

Discoveries:


  • I am surprised with how much I am enjoying researching this topic.

References:
Sources

Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute, viewed 26 April 2011,
< http://www.ballaratmi.com/>

Baragwanath, Pam 2000, If the walls could speak : a social history of the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Mechanics Institute Inc, Windsor, Vic.

Bath royal literary and scientific institution, England, viewed 26 April 2011,
<www.brlsi.org>

Burke & Wills Mechanics' Institute, Fryerstown, viewed 26 April 2011,
<http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Memorials/fryerstown.htm>

Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria, viewed 26 April 2011, <http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mivic/history.htm >, <http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mivic/institutes.htm, http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mivic/publications.htm>

Image

Briagololong Mechanics Institute, viewed 26 April 2011,
<http://kapana.customer.netspace.net.au/Briag2.html>

Burke & Wills Mechanics' Institute, Fryerstown, viewed 26 April 2011,
<http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Memorials/fryerstown.htm>

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Tuesday, 5 April 2011

MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARIES IN VICTORIA

WHAT IS A MECHANICS INSTITUTE?

A Mechanics Institute is a primary community-owned cultural organisation that provides a venue and facilities to hold community classes and events, including lectures and debates. Mechanics Institutes’ are the predecessors of adult education and libraries in Victoria. Most mechanics Institutes in Australia contain a range of books and periodical material for loan by subscription. Mechanics Institutes are also known as ‘Mechanics Institutes & Free Libraries’.



Mechanics' Institute - Ballarat (Ballaarat)



THE HISTORY OF MECHANICS INSTITUTE:

The term “mechanic” in the 19th century meant artisan (skilled at a craft) or working man. The mechanics’ institute movement began in 1800 when Dr George Birkbeck of the Andersonian Institute in Glasgow, Scotland gave a series of lectures to local mechanics. The lectures were free and proved to be very popular; launching the ‘Mechanics’ Institute movement. They led to the formation of the Edinburgh School of Arts (1821) and the London Mechanics’ Institute (1823). The movement spread quickly throughout the British Empire.

More than 600 Mechanics’ Institutes had been established in England by 1850 and in colonial Australia, the first Mechanics’ Institute was established in Hobart in 1826. In 1833 Sydney established its first Mechanics’ Institute and Victoria soon followed establishing its first Mechanics’ Institute in 1839.

The Melbourne Mechanics' Institute was the first Victorian Mechanics' Institute established in 1839, which was renamed The Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873. The Athenaeum has a library, theatres and shops that continue to operate in the original building, at 188 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Wherever a school, a library, or a hall was needed a Mechanics’ Institute was established. That is, in Australia nearly every sizable town established a Mechanics’ Institute or School of Arts from around the 1850s. Almost one thousand Mechanics Institutes were built in Victoria. The history of Mechanics Institutes of Victoria is described in, "If the Walls Could Speak: A Social History of the Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria" written by Pam Baragwanath, published by The Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria with the aid of a Centenary of Federation grant in November 2000.

Before Government funded libraries and adult education institutes, the Mechanics’ Institute provided people with access to books, newspapers, periodicals, lectures and scientific demonstrations. They were also a place for social, cultural and recreational gatherings for the local community.


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Research brief

TOPIC OF RESEARCH PROJECT:
Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria

BRIEF OUTLINE:

After analysing the research topic, to clarify the research subject and to establish the scope of the research, I will then identify, obtain and use relevant research tools and resources available, in both hardcopy and electronically accessed forms. Including books, journals, manuscripts, photographs, video and/or audio recordings, websites, search engines (e.g. metasearch), online and library catalogues, academic portals, visiting libraries/academic libraries/special libraries, archives and records offices, and/or any relevant museums. I will read and evaluate all resources found during research and keep records of search strategies, research tools, and reference resources in bibliography, using the Harvard Referencing guide. I will create and maintain consistent blog posts describing the research process, research findings, and my reflection on the research including any difficulties, discoveries, good reference resources, website links etc... and presenting my research findings assessment by the required due date of week 12.
PLAN AND DEADLINES:

FROM WEEK 5 - 10:
I will create my first ever blog and start posting and writing pages on the research process, research findings, and my reflection on the research. The first blog post will be an outline of my brief report on the research topic - Mechanics Institutes Libraries in Victoria. My second blog will be an introduction and a brief outline of the history of Mechanics Institute Libraries in Victoria.

Further blog posts will include:
  • The purpose of libraries
  • The services available
  • The range of resources held at selected Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria
  • How they are funded
  • The type of staff working at selected Mechanics Institute Libraries in Victoria and if staff are paid or volunteers
  • The relevance of resource findings to the topic of the research project - Mechanics Institute libraries in Victoria.
All blog post will state the process used to research and update the blog posts and I will post my conclusion in my final blog post. I will present my findings and submit my Assessment by week 12.
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