Contents: Introduction / Kevin Quigley p1. Athenaeum memories / Ray Lawler p5. On Marcus Clarke / Marcus Niski p11. The first books: Henry Fyshe Gisborne and the beginning of the Melbourne Athenaeum Library / Matthew Gisborne p29. History and records of the institution: 1839-1939 / R.W.E. Wilmot p37. Who was R.W.E. Wilmot? / Margaret Bowman p63. On the record: John Henry Curtis, Secretary of the Melbourne Athenaeum 1879-1909 / Margaret Bowman p75. The Melbourne Athenaeum: the elegant flagship and progenitor of the influential mechanics' institute movement / Pam Baragwanath p89. The mechanics' institute / Garryowen p95. History, notes and comments: 1939-1984 / L.J. Stephens p105. The Athenaeum: the story of its building / Jenny Mitchelhill p141. Acknowledgements p159. On cover: 170 years, 1839 - 2009.