Mechanics' institutes Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult ed ...

were a

Victorian-era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed th ...

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 The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia. The states are partially sovereignty, sovereign, administrative divisions that are autonomous administrative division, self-governing polity, ...

, where they were set up in virtually every colony. In some places, notably throughout the colonies of Queensland and

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, they were often known as schools of arts. 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

The foundations of the movement which created mechanics' institutes were in lectures given by

George Birkbeck George Birkbeck (; 10 January 1776 – 1 December 1841) was an English physician, academic, philanthropist, pioneer in adult education and a professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institute. He is the founder of Birkbeck, Universit ...

(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 on 16 October 1821 of the first

mechanics' institute Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult edu ...

in Edinburgh, the

Edinburgh School of Arts Heriot-Watt University () is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and was subsequently granted university status by royal ...

(later

Heriot-Watt University Heriot-Watt University () is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and was subsequently granted university status by roya ...

). Its first lecture was on

chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...

, and within a month it was subscribed to by 452 men who each paid a quarterly subscription fee. 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, and by 1900 there were over 9,000 mechanics institutes around the world. 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 ''Laissez-faire'' ( , from , ) is a type of economic system in which transactions between private groups of people are free from any form of economic interventionism (such as subsidies or regulations). As a system of thought, ''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. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
licence. 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. The first mechanics' institute in the Australian colonies was established in

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

in 1827, followed by the

Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA) is the longest running School of Arts (also known as a " Mechanics' Institute") and the oldest continuous lending library in Australia. Founded in 1833, the school counted many of the colony's educat ...

in 1833,

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

School of Arts in 1835, then the

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Mechanics' Institute established in 1839 (renamed the

Melbourne Athenaeum The Athenaeum or Melbourne Athenaeum at 188 Collins Street is an art and cultural hub in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1839, it is the city's oldest cultural institution. Its building on Collin ...

in 1873). From the 1850s, mechanics' institutes quickly spread throughout

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

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.

21st century revival

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 A subscription library (also membership library or independent library) is a library that is financed by private funds either from membership fees or endowments. Unlike a public library, access is often restricted to members, but access rights ca ...

, 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. In the state of

, 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 Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...

, 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. Mackay School of Arts

By state

New South Wales

The

, established in 1833, is the oldest school of arts in continuous operation, and largest in Australia Other institutes in New South Wales include: * Albury Mechanics' Institute,

Albury Albury (; ) is a major regional city that is located in the Murray River, Murray region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the twin city of Albury–Wodonga, Albury-Wodonga and is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of ...

* Arncliffe School of Arts hall/Council Hall * Balmain Workingmen's Institute closed
Bathurst School of Arts
* Batlow Literary Institute *

Berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...

School of Arts *

Binalong Binalong ( ) is a village in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, 37 km north-west of Yass in Yass Valley Shire. At the , Binalong and the surrounding area had a population of 550. History Original inhabitants The i ...

Mechanics' Institute *

Blacktown Blacktown is a suburb in New South Wales, Australia, west of the Sydney central business district. It is one of the most multicultural places within Sydney, Greater Sydney. History Before the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, the area of ...

School of Arts, established as the Blacktown Mutual Improvement Association (1905) * Bourke School of Arts * Braidwood Literary InstituteThe Libraries of Schools of Arts and Mechanics’ Institutes: Time Capsules of Australian Book Collections.
* Burrawang School of Arts * Buxton, New South Wales * Carlingford Mechanics' Institute * 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 Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the Australian States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, north-west of the Sydney central business district in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the City of Parramat ...

* Fairfield School of Arts *

Glebe A glebe (, also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s)) is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved to the church. ...

School of Arts *

Glen Oaks A glen is a valley, typically one that is long and bounded by gently sloped concave sides, unlike a ravine, which is deep and bounded by steep slopes. The word is Goidelic in origin: ''gleann'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, ''glion'' in Manx. ...

School of Arts * Goulburn Mechanics' Institute (1853–1946) * Grafton School of Arts Library * Granville School of Arts, now a

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...

* Grenfell Mechanics' Institute, Grenfell *

Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, England, around south-west of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The nam ...

Soldiers' Memorial School of Arts * Gundagai Literary Institute,

Gundagai Gundagai is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town. Located along the Murrumbidgee River and Muniong, Honeys ...

* Howlong Mechanics' Institute * Kogarah School of Arts (1886) * Lawson Mechanics' Institute * Leichhardt School of Arts hall Hall * Moruya Mechanics' Institute * Nelligen Mechanics' Institute, Nelligen * Newtown School of art * Oatley School of Arts (1905), Oatley * Peakhurst School of Arts, Peakhurst * Penrith School of Arts *

Queanbeyan Queanbeyan ( ) is a city in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia, located adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory in the Southern Tablelands region. Located on the Queanbeyan River, the city is the council seat of the Queanbeyan-Pale ...

School of Arts * Richmond School of Arts * Rockdale School of Arts * Rollands Plains School of Arts Hall. *

Rooty Hill Rooty Hill is a heritage-listed historic site and now parkland at Eastern Road, Rooty Hill, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1802 to 1828. It is also known as The Rooty Hill and Morreau Reserve. The property is ...

School of Arts (1903) *

Rozelle Rozelle is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 4 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Inner West Council. Location Rozelle s ...

Mechanics' Institute *

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

School of Arts hall * Scone School of Arts,

Scone A scone ( or ) is a traditional British and Irish baked good, popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is usually made of either wheat flour or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. A scone is often ...

Seaham Seaham ( ) is a seaside town in County Durham (district), County Durham, England. Located on the Durham Coast, Seaham is situated south of Sunderland and east of Durham, England, Durham. The town grew from the late 19th century onwards as ...

School of Arts * Singleton Mechanics' Institute * Sunny Corner School of Arts, Sunny *

Tenterfield School of Arts The Tenterfield School of Arts is a heritage-listed former school of arts and now museum, theatre, cinema, community centre and library located at Manners Street, Tenterfield in the Tenterfield Shire local government area of New South Wales ...

* Trundle School of Arts (1914-1923) * Wagga Wagga School of Arts * Wentworth Falls School of Arts * Wilberforce *

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places *Detroit–Windsor, Michigan-Ontario, USA-Canada, North America; a cross-border metropolitan region Australia New South Wales *Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area Queen ...

School of Arts, Bridge Street, Thompson Square * Wingello Mechanics' Institute * Yass Mechanics' Institute, Yass

Queensland

* Baree School of Arts *

Brisbane School of Arts Brisbane School of Arts is a heritage-listed mechanics' institutes, school of arts at 166 Ann Street, Brisbane, Ann Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1865 to 1985. It ...

* Bundaberg School of Arts * Cairns School of Arts (now the Cairns Museum) * Coorparoo School of Arts and RSL Memorial Hall, 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 * Maryborough School of Arts * Mungungo School of Arts * 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

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,PDF
/ref> This organisation merged with the South Australian Library in 1848, creating the Mechanics' Institute and South Australian Library. and was the forerunner of the State Library of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Between 1847 and 1856, thirteen further institutes came into existence: *Hindmarsh, South Australia, Hindmarsh *North Adelaide *Stepney, South Australia, Stepney / Norwood, South Australia, Norwood *Glen Osmond, South Australia, Glen Osmond *Gawler, South Australia, Gawler *Strathalbyn, South Australia, Gawler *Mount Barker, South Australia, Mount Barker *Clarendon, South Australia, Clarendon *Willunga, South Australia, Willunga *Woodside, South Australia, Woodside *Port Adelaide Institute *Port Lincoln *Port Elliot The South Australian Institute, incorporated under the ''South Australian Institute Act'' of 1856, became the support and lead organisation for the 350 institutes in South Australia. In 1975, the South Australian Government, 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. Later mechanics' institutes in South Australia included: *Balaklava, South Australia, Balaklava Institute *Beachport, South Australia, Beachport Institute *Cambrai, South Australia, Cambrai Institute *Cobdogla Institute *Coonalpyn, South Australia#photo gallery, Coonalpyn Institute *Curramulka, South Australia, Curramulka Institute *Dawson, South Australia#history, Dawson Institute * Dublin, South Australia, Dublin Institute *Edithburgh, South Australia, Edithburgh Institute *Farrell Flat Institute *Freeling, South Australia, Freeling Institute *Hamley Bridge Institute *Karoonda, South Australia#Photo gallery, Karoonda * Kensington and Norwood Institute *Macclesfield, South Australia#Community Events, Macclesfield Institute *Mannum#Gallery, Mannum Institute *Mintaro, South Australia, Mintaro Institute *Mitcham Village Institute *Morgan, South Australia#Gallery, Morgan Institute *Mount Gambier Institute *Owen, South Australia#Gallery, Owen Institute *Pinnaroo, South Australia, Pinnaroo Institute *Port Vincent, South Australia, Port Vincent Institute *Ramco, South Australia, Ramco Institute *Saddleworth, South Australia, Saddleworth Institute *Stansbury, South Australia, Stansbury Memorial Institute *Terowie, South Australia, Terowie Institute *Waikerie, South Australia#Gallery, Waikerie Institute *Wasleys#Gallery, Wasleys Institute

Tasmania

*The earliest and most prominent institute ïn Tasmania was Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution, also known as Hobart Town Mechanics' Institute,

(1827–1871), co-founded by George Augustus Robinson. The institute had a shaky start, but after the Presbyterian minister John Lillie (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. *Launceston Mechanics' Institute, Launceston, Tasmania, Launceston, co-founded in 1842 by Congregational minister, journalist and historian John West (writer), 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. Others included: * Don Mechanics' Institute, Don, Tasmania * Ellesmere Mechanics' Institute, Ellesmere, Tasmania, Ellesmere (later Scottsdale) * Emu Bay Mechanics' Institute, Burnie, Tasmania, Burnie * Franklin Mechanics' Institute, Franklin, Tasmania, Franklin * Huon Mechanics' Institute * Port Esperance Mechanics' Institute, Port Esperance * Queenstown Mechanics' Institute, Queenstown, Tasmania, Queenstown * Ringarooma Mechanics' Institute, Ringarooma * Waratah Mechanics' Institute, Waratah, Tasmania, Waratah * West Hobart Mechanics' Institute, West Hobart (), still standing as of 2011 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. 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.

Victoria

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

to the tiny Moonambel Mechanics' Institute in Moonambel. Past and present institutes in Victoria include: * Alexandra School of Arts, Alexandra, Victoria * Amphitheatre Mechanics' Institute, Amphitheatre, Victoria, Amphitheatre * Ballan, Victoria#History, Ballan Mechanics' Institute, 1860 * Ballarat#Education, Ballarat Mechanics Institute * Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library (1862) * Bonnie Doon Community Centre * Briagolong Mechanics' Institute, Briagolong, 1874 * Brunswick, Victoria Mechanics Institute * Bunyip Mechanics' Institute, 1905 * Footscray Mechanics' Institute, Footscray, Victoria, Footscray * Burke and Wills Institute, Fryerstown * Glengarry Mechanics' Institute, 1886 * Horsham, Victoria#culture, Horsham, Mechanics Institute * Geelong Mechanics Institute * Kilmore Mechanics' Institute and Free Library * Kyneton#education, Kyneton Mechanics Institute * Lancefield Mechanics' Institute and Free Library * Little River Mechanics' Institute, Little River, Victoria, Little River * Long Gully Mechanics Institute * Longwarry Mechanics' Institute and Free Library, 1886 * Maffra Mechanics' Institute * Maldon Athenaeum Library * Malmsbury Mechanics' Institute, 1862 * Meeniyan Mechanics' Institute, 1892 * Melbourne Athenaeum, Melbourne Athenaeum Library * Melbourne Mechanics Institute 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. * Port Fairy Library and Lecture Hall, Port Fairy, Victoria, Port Fairy, 1860 * Rosedale Mechanics' Institute, 1863 * Rushworth, Victoria, Rushworth Mechanics Institute * Stanley Athenaeum and Public Room * Stratford Mechanics' Institute, 1866 * Talbot Community Library & Arts Centre * City of Williamstown, Wiiliamstown Mechanics Institute
Tallarook Mechanics Institute
* Trafalgar Mechanics' Institute and Free Library, Trafalgar, Victoria, Trafalgar, 1889 * Toongabbie Mechanics' Institute, 1883 * Upper Maffra Mechanics Institute * Charlton, Victoria#gallery, Charlton, Mechanics Institute * Drysdale, Victoria#gallery, Drysdale Free Library * Elmhurst, Victoria#Gallery, Elmhurst Mechanics Institute * Echuca, Victoria, Echuca Mechanics' Institute,

* Great Western, Victoria#Gallery, Great Western Mechanics Institute * Healesville, Victoria#gallery, Healesville Mechanics Institute * Leongatha#Community, Leongatha Mechanics Institute * Lilydale, Victoria#History, Lilydale Mechanics Institute * Mornington, Victoria, Mornington Mechanics Institute * Morongla Creek, New South Wales, Morongla Creek Mechanics Institute Hall * Institute * Macarthur, Victoria Mechanisc Institute Hall * Nagambie#gallery, Nagambie Mechanics Institute * Riddells Creek Mechanics Institute * Narre Warren Mechanics Institute (1891) * Prahran Mechanics' Institute * Purlewaugh Mechanics' Institute * Purnim Mechanics' Institute, Purnim, Victoria, Purnim * Mechanics' Institute, Sorrento * Romsey Mechanics Institute * Richmond, New South Wales, Richmond School of Arts *

Soldiers Memorial School of Arts * Arts Theatre Cronulla#Early Years, Cronulla School of Arts * Carlton School of Arts hall * Sunny Corner School of Arts. * Cookamidgera Mechanics Institute. * Warrandyte Mechnanics' Institute, Warrandyte, Victoria, Warrandyte * Wambat Mechanics Institute * Winiam, Shire of Lowan Mechanics Institute Library * Woodend, Victoria, Woodend Mechanics Institute * Yandoit#Gallery, Yandoit Mechanics Institute

Western Australia

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. Other mechanics' institutes include: *Albany, Western Australia, Albany (1853) * Bunbury, Western Australia, Bunbury (1867) * Busselton (1861) * Greenough, Western Australia, Greenough (1865) * Guildford Mechanics' Institute, Guildford, Western Australia, Guildford, a suburb of Perth (1862) * Katanning Mechanics' Institute, Katanning * Northam, Western Australia, Northam (1866) * South Perth Mechanics' Institute, now Old Mill Theatre, South Perth, Western Australia, South Perth, 1899 * Toodyay Public Library#Mechanics' Institute 1874-1921, Toodyay (1866) * York, Western Australia, York in 1861

References

{{coord missing, Australia Libraries in Australia Adult education in Australia