The history of mechanics' institutes in Victoria is an inspiring story of courage, commitment to the local community, and endurance, from 1839 to the present. Determined to succeed in working towards more opportunity in a fairer society, they were formed by local communities with the following aims: 'The diffusion of literary, scientific and other useful knowledge and the literary advancement and recreation of members and the community generally. The means to be employed are the delivery of lectures, a library of reference and circulation, a reading room and the formation of classes'. Arguably Victoria's oldest and most influential surviving institution, they were the forerunners to TAFE, the regional library system, intellectual culture and the hub of social life around Victoria. The mechanics' institute legacy is that over half of them remain today still in traditional use. Surely this is one of Victoria's great success stories.

Contents:
Forward p6. Dedications p8. Dingo Flat: a story by Pam Baragwanath p9. Other publications by the authors p11. Preface p12. Introduction p13. Acknowledgements p14. About the project p15.

Alphabetical record of mechanics’ institutes in Victoria [short histories of the mechanics’ institute (or hall, free library, athenaeum etc.) in the following places]:

Acheron. Ailsa. Airly see Clydebank. Alberton. Alberton West. Alexandra. Allambee Reserve. Allambee South. Allansford. Allendale. Amey’s Track. Amherst. Amphitheatre. Anakie. Ancona see Borodomanin. Andersons Creek see Warrandyte. Apollo Bay. Appin. Apsley. Ararat. Arawata. Ardmona. Areegra. Arnolds Bridge. Arthurs Creek. Athlone. Aubrey. Avenel. Avoca.

Baarmutha. Bacchus Marsh. Bagshot. Bahgallah. Bairnsdale. Ballan. Ballaarat (Ballarat). Balliang. Ballyrogan. Balmoral. Balnarring. Balook. Balwyn. Bangerang. Bannockburn. Banyena. Barfold. Baringhup. Barry’s Reef. Barwidgee. Barwite. Bass. Bass Valley. Batesford. Bayles see Yallock. Bayswater. Beaconsfield. Bealiba. Bears Lagoon. Beaufort. Beckwith. Beeac. Beech Forest. Beechworth. Belgrave Heights. Bellbrae. Belmont. Benalla. Bena. Benambra. Bendigo. Bengworden. Bentleigh. Berringa. Berringama. Berriwillock. Berwick. Bessiebelle. Bethanga. Betley. Beulah. Binginwarri. Birchip. Birregurra. Blackwarry. Blackwood. Blackwood North. Blakeville. Bloomfield see Nilma North. Boginawarrah. Boho South see Marraweeny. Boisdale. Bolinda. Boneo. Bonnie Doon. Boolarong. Boolarra. Boolarra South. Boolite. Booranghoop. Boort. Borodomanin. Borung. Bostocks Creek. Bowenvale. Box Hill. Branxholme. Briagolong. Bridgewater. Bright. Brighton. Brighton East see Bentleigh. Brim. Broadford. Brookville. Broomfield. Brown Hill. Brunswick. Bruthen. Buangor. Buchan. Buchan South. Buckrabanyule. Budgeree. Buffalo. Buffalo River. Bulga. Bullarto. Bullumwaal. Buln Buln. Bungaree. Bunguluke. Buninyong. Bunyip. Burkes Flat. Burrereo. Burrumbeet. Burwood. Burwood East. Buxton. Byaduk.

California Gully. Calivil. Callawadda. Callawadda South. Callignee. Camberwell. Campbells Creek. Campbells Forest. Camperdown. Caniambo. Cannum. Cannum North see Aubrey. Canterbury. Cape Clear. Caramut. Cardigan. Carisbrook. Carlton. Carngham see Snake Valley. Carpendeit. Carrajung. Carrum. Carrum North. Carwarp. Cassilis. Casterton. Castlemaine. Cathcart. Cavendish. Ceres. Chapple Vale. Charlton. Cheltenham. Cheshunt. Chewton. Childers. Chiltern. Chilwell. Chinaman’s Flat. Christmas Hills. Clarkefield. Clayton. Clementston. Clunes. Clyde. Clyde North. Clydebank. Coalville. Cobden. Cobram. Cobrico. Coburg. Cockatoo. Coghills Creek. Cohuna. Colac. Coldstream. Coleraine. Collingwood. Condah. Congupna. Coongulmerang. Coonooer Bridge. Corack. Cora Lynn. Corindhap. Corop. Corryong. Costerfield. Cowes. Cowwarr. Craigieburn. Cranbourne. Cressy. Creswick. Crossover. Croydon. Cudgee. Cudgewa. Culgoa. Cunninghame see Lakes Entrance. Curdies River.

Dalyston. Dandenong. Dargo. Darlimurla see Delburn. Darnum. Darriman. Dartmoor. Daylesford. Dean. Deans Marsh. Dederang. Degamero. Delburn. Delegate River. Delvine. Dennington. Dergholm. Derrinallum. Devondale see Chapple Vale. Devon Meadows. Diamond Creek. Diapur. Digby. Diggers Rest. Dimboola. Dingee. Dixie. Dollar. Donald. Doncaster. Dooen. Dookie. Doveton. Dromana. Drouin. Drouin South. Drouin West. Drumborg. Drummond. Drysdale. Dudley. Dumbalk. Dumbalk North. Dunkeld. Dunluce. Dunnstown. Dunolly. Dunrobin. Durham Ox. Dutson.

Eaglehawk. East Trentham see Blackwood North. Echuca. Ecklin. Ecklin North see Dixie. Eddington. Edenhope. Elaine. Eldorado. Ellerslie. Ellinbank. Elmhurst. Elmore. Elphinstone. Eltham. Emberton see Barfold. Emerald. Emu. Ensay. Epping. Epsom. Eskdale. Essendon and Flemington see Moonee Ponds. Euroa. Evansford. Exford.

Fairbank. Fawcett. Fern Hill. Ferntree Gully. Fernbank. Ferny Creek. Fish Creek. Fitzroy. Five Mile see Koo Wee Rup. Flemington. Flinders. Flowerdale. Flynn. Footscray. Forge Creek. Forrest. Forest Creek see Wesley Hill. Foster. Foster North. Foxhow. Framlingham. Frankston. Freeburgh. French Island. Freshwater Creek. Fryerstown. Fumina.

Galah. Garfield. Garvoc. Geelong. Gellibrand. Gellibrand Lower. Gembrook. Gembrook South. Gerang Gerung. Gerangamete. Gisborne. Glen Forbes. Glen Iris. Glen Waverley. Glen Wills. Glenaroua. Glendaurel see Coghills Creek. Glengarry. Glenloth. Glenlyon. Glenmaggie. Glenorchy. Glenthompson. Gobur. Golden Square. Goldsborough. Goorambat. Gordon. Gormandale. Goroke. Goschen. Gould. Grantville. Granya. Grassmere. Great Western. Gruyere South. Guildford. Gunbower. Gunyah Central. Gunyah Junction. Gymbowen.

Haddon. Hallora. Hallston. Hamilton. Happy Valley. Harrietville. Harrow. Hastings. Haunted Stream see Stirling. Hawkesdale. Hawthorn. Hazelwood North. Healesville. Heathcote. Headley. Heidelberg. Hexham. Heyfield. Heywood. Highlands. Highton. Hill End. Hochkirch see Tarrington. Hopetoun. Horsham. Hotspur. Hovells Creek. Howes Creek. Hurstbridge.

Illabarook. Illowa. Inglewood. Inverleigh. Inverloch. Ironbark. Irymple.

Jallukar. Jamieson. Jan Juc see Bellbrae. Jarklin. Jeeralang North. Jeffcott North. Jeparit. Jericho. Jindivick. Johnsonville. Jumbuk. Jumbunna. Jung.

Kaleno. Kalkee. Kallista. Kalpienung. Kaneira see Culgoa. Kangaroo Flat. Kangaroo Ground. Kangaroo see Berringa. Kaniva. Kardella. Katamatite. Kensington. Kerang. Kewell North. Kew. Kiewa see Tangambalanga. Kiewa Valley see Tangambalanga. Kilcunda. Kilmore. Kinglake. Kinglake West. Kingower. Kingston. Kiora. Kirkstall. Kolora. Konagaderra. Koo Wee Rup. Koo Wee Rup North. Koondrook. Koonwarra. Kooreh. Koornalla. Koorooman. Koroit. Korong Vale. Korumburra. Krambruk see Apollo Bay. Kurting. Kyabram. Kyneton.

Laanecoorie. Labertouche. Laen. Lake Boga. Lake Charm. Lake Marmal. Lake Meran. Lake Rowan. Lakes Entrance. Lalbert. Lancefield. Landsborough. Lang Lang. Lara see Hovells Creek. Lardner. Lascelles. Lavers Hill. Le Roy. Learmonth. Leneva. Leonards Hill. Leongatha. Leongatha South. Leopold. Lethbridge. Lexton. Lillimur. Lillimur South. Lilydale. Lindenow. Lindenow South. Linton. Lismore. Little River. Livingston. Loch. Loch Valley. Logan. Long Gully. Longford. Longwarry. Longwarry East see Hallora. Longwood. Lorne. Lorquon. Lovely Banks. Lower Norton Creek. Lubeck. Lucknow. Lyonville.

Macarthur. Macclesfield. Macedon. Madalya. Maffra. Mailors Flat. Majorca. Maldon. Malmsbury. Malvern. Mansfield. Mardan. Marnoo. Marraweeney. Maryborough. Marysville. Mead. Meeniyan. Meerlieu. Melbourne. Melton. Mentone. Merbein. Meredith. Merino. Mernda. Merrigum. Merton. Metropolitan Farm see Werribee. Mia Mia. Middle Bridge see Betley. Milawa. Mildura. Milford. Milton. Miners Rest. Minimay. Minyip. Mirboo. Mirboo East. Mirboo North. Mitiamo. Mitta Mitta. Moe. Moglonemby. Molesworth. Moliagul. Mollongghip. Mologa. Monbulk. Montrose. Moonambel. Moondarra. Moonee Ponds. Moonee Vale. Moorabbin. Moorabool. Mooroopna. Mordialloc. Mornington. Morrisons. Mortlake. Morwell. Mount Beckworth. Mount Best. Mount Dandenong. Mount Eccles. Mount Egerton. Mount Evelyn. Mount Korong see Wedderburn. Mountain View. Mount Moriac. Moyreisk. Moyston. Mudgegonga. Munro. Murchison. Murrayville. Murrumbeena. Murtoa. Musk Vale. Myamyn. Myrniong. Myrtleford. Mysia. Mystic Park.

Nagambie. Nambrok. Nar Nar Goon. Narbethong. Nareen. Naroghid. Narracan. Narracan South see Delburn. Narracan East. Narrawong. Narre Warren. Narre Warren North. Nathalia. Natimuk. Natte Yallock see Dunluce. Neerim East. Neerim Junction. Neerim North. Neerim South. Nelson see Stirling. Nerrena. Netherby. New Gisborne. Newbridge. Newham. Newlyn. Newmarket. Newport. Newry. Newstead. Newtown. Newtown via Scarsdale. Nhill. Ni Ni. Nillumbik see Diamond Creek. Nilma. Nilma North. Nine Mile. Ninyeunook. Nirranda. Noble Park. Noojee. Noorat. Noorinbee. Noradjuha. North Melbourne. Northcote. Nugong. Nullawil. Numurkah. Nurrabiel. Nyah. Nyora.

Oakleigh. Ocean Grove. Olinda. Omeo. Orbost. Orford. Outtrim. Ouyen.

Pakenham. Pakenham Upper. Panmure. Panton Hill. Parwan South. Paynesville. Penshurst. Peterborough. Picnic Point. Piggoreet. Pimpinio. Pine Lodge North and Katandra. Pirron Yallock. Pitfield Plains. Pleasant Creek see Stawell West. Pomborneit. Poowong. Poowong East. Porcupine Ridge. Porepunkah. Port Albert. Port Campbell. Port Fairy. Port Melbourne. Portarlington. Port Franklin. Portland. Pound Creek. Prahran. Preston Hill. Preston. Preston South. Princetown. Puckapunyal. Purnim. Pyramid Hill.

Quambatook. Quantong. Queenscliff. Queensferry. Queenstown see St Andrews.

Raglan. Rainbow. Raywood. Red Hill. Redbank see Moyreisk. Redesdale. Rheola. Rhyll. Rhymney. Rich Avon West. Richmond. Richmond South. Riddells Creek. Ringwood. Rochester. Rockbank. Rocklyn see Rocky Lead. Rocky Lead. Rokeby. Rokewood. Rokewood Junction. Romsey. Rosebud. Rosedale. Rossbridge [Ross Bridge]. Ross Creek. Rothwell. Rowsley. Ruby. Ruffy. Rupanyup. Rushworth. Rutherglen. Rye. Ryton.

Sailors Home. Sale. Sandford. Sandhill Lake. Sandhurst see Bendigo. Sandringham. Sarsfield. Sassafras. Scarsdale. Schnapper Point see Mornington. Scotsburn. Scotts Creek. Sea Lake. Seaspray. Seaton. Seaview. Sebastian. Sebastopol. Seville. Seymour. Sheep Hills. Shelford. Shepparton. Shoreham. Silvan. Skenes Creek. Skipton. Smeaton. Smiths Gully. Smythesdale. Snake Valley. Somerville. Sorrento. South Melbourne. South Sassafras see Kallista. Speed. Spotswood. Spring Creek see Fawcett. Springhurst. Springs see Waubra. Springvale. St Albans. St Andrews. St Arnaud. St James. St Kilda. Staceys Bridge. Stanley. Staughton Vale see Anakie. Stawell. Steiglitz. Stirling. Stockyard Creek see Foster. Stony Creek. Stonyford. Stradbroke. Stratford. Strath Creek. Strathbogie. Strathkellar. Strzelecki. Stuart Mill. Sunbury. Sunnyside. Sunshine. Surrey Hills. Sutton Grange. Suttons Tank. Swan Hill. Swan Marsh. Swan Reach. Swifts Creek. Sydenham.

Taggerty. Tahara. Talbot. Talgarno. Tallangatta. Tallarook. Tallygaroopna. Tandarra. Tangambalanga. Taradale. Tarnagulla. Tarra Valley. Tarraville. Tarrington. Tarwin East. Tarwin Lower. Tatura. Tawonga. Teesdale. Telangatuk East. Templestowe. Ten Mile. Terang. The Heart. Thomastown. Thoona. Thornton. Thorpdale. Thorpdale South. Three Mile see Baarmutha. Timboon. Timor see Bowenvale. Tinambra (sic.) Tinamba. Tobin Yallock see Lang Lang. Tolmie. Tongala. Tongio West. Tooborac. Toolern Vale. Toongabbie. Toora. Toora North. Tooradin. Trafalgar. Traralgon. Traralgon South. Traynors Lagoon. Trentham. Trida. Truganina. Tungamah. Turtons Creek. Tyabb. Tyers. Tynong. Tyrendarra.

Ullina. Ultima. Upper Beaconsfield. Upper Bloomfield. Upper Diamond Creek see Hurstbridge. Upper Flynns Creek. Upper Maffra see Newry. Upper Plenty. Upper Traralgon see Le Roy.

Ventnor. Vermont. Viaduct see Moorabool. View Point see Bendigo. Violet Town.

Wa-De-Lock. Wahgunyah. Walhalla. Wallace. Wallacedale. Wallaloo. Wallan. Walook. Walwa. Wandiligong. Wandin East. Wandin South see Silvan. Wando Vale. Wandong. Wangaratta. Waratah. Warburton. Warracknabeal. Warragul. Warrandyte. Warranook. Warrenbayne. Warrnambool. Watchem. Waterloo (Gippsland) see Yarragon. Waterloo. Waubra. Waurn Ponds. Websters Hill. Wedderburn. Weeaproinah. Wehla. Welshpool. Werribee. Wesley Hill. West Melbourne. White Hills. Whitfield. Whittlesea. Whorouly. Whroo. Wickcliffe. Wilby. Willaura. Willenabrina. Williamstown. Willung. Willung South see Gormandale. Winchelsea. Windermere. Winiam. Winslow. Wodonga. Wombelano. Womerah. Wonga Park. Wonga Wonga. Wonwondah. Wonyip. Woodend. Woodford. Woodside. Woods Point. Woodstock. Woolsthorpe. Woomelang. Woorak. Woorarra East. Woorarra West. Woori Yallock. Woorndoo. Wunghnu. Wy Yung. Wycheproof. Wychitella. Wyelangta.

Yackandandah. Yackandandah Lower. Yallock. Yallourn. Yambuk. Yanac. Yandoit. Yan Yean see Mernda. Yarck. Yarra Glen. Yarragon. Yarra Junction. Yarram. Yarrawalla. Yarrawonga. Yatpool. Yea. Yendon. Yham. Yinnar.

About the authors p653. Appendix 1: A brief summary of the mechanics’ institutes movement, including Australia / Pam Baragwanath p655. Appendix 2: A woman’s touch: women’s role in the mechanics’ institutes / Pam Baragwanath p660. Appendix 3: Government grants to country free libraries, 1945-1979 / Ken James p664. Appendix 4: Travelling libraries scheme / Ken James p666. Appendix 5: Mechanics’ institutes – our cultural heritage and heritage registrations / Janette Hodgson p667. Appendix 6: At the heart of our community / Chris Johnston p674. Appendix 7: The architecture style of mechanics’ institute buildings in Victoria / Lorraine Huddle p675. Appendix 8: Mechanics’ institutes as motion picture venues [cinemas] / Royce Harris p682. Appendix 9: Statistics for mechanics’ institutes in Victoria / Janette Hodgson p683. Appendix 10: Mechanics’ institutes rural Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne / Janette Hodgson p685. Image credits p687. General bibliography p692. Index of individual entries p700.

Victorian Community History Award 2016 - Winner