Photo taken by Pam Baragwanath 30/8/1996

Name: Brunswick Mechanics’ Institute

Address: 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Local Government area: City of Moreland

Institute established: 1868

Date of Present Building: 1868. Additions, renovations in 1926.

Building succession number: 1. 1868 (concert hall in 1870): additions in 1926 and 1978.

Current use: Community

Social history:

Foundation: “A series of lectures by first rate literary men” - Professor Irving, Mr. Michie and Mr. D. Blair - were organised in Brunswick in 1861 to raise money for the building of a mechanics’ institute. The lectures were followed by a public meeting at the council chambers two months later. It was reported that it was “discreditable” that an institution had not been established before that, and “lukewarmness on the part of the inhabitants….will be a lasting stigma on the district”. (Brunswick and Pentridge Press )

Mt. T.J. Sumner J.P. donated the land, became the first President and was one of the trustees of the newly formed institute. There was a tone of unanimity at the meeting, a committee of 21 members was elected and a council grant was announced. The date 1868, appears over the Sydney Road entrance of the mechanics’ institute building and by 1870, the concert hall had been completed. (The present facade facing Glenlyon Road states the date 1926 and commemorates when the building was internally and externally renovated). The architects of the building were Kelly and Beswicke. 

Gold rush era: The Victorian gold rushes had a profound effect on Brunswick, it was the first night stop out of Melbourne and a large camp was set up near the mechanics’ institute. Sydney Road also became the main route to Sydney, trade flourished and the area was known as the new Birmingham of Australia. Essential services such as water was piped in from 1858 and when the sewerage came in 1907, the mechanics’ institute was the first connection to be made. 

Changes to the building and land: Originally the institute building featured exposed brickwork of deep brown brick and decorative quoin work but in 1926 the facade was rendered. The rapid industrial growth of the gold rush period and beyond required educational facilities to be added to the institute; a library was established for tradesmen. By 1873 there were 1,150 titles and a free reading room. In 1891 the Brunswick Baths were situated at the rear of the institute and were operated, if not owned, by the institute. In 1924 the land was converted to a children’s  playground and later still the land became the site of the Brunswick Centenary Health Centre, which was opened in 1961.  In 1915 an Act of Parliament passed management of the institute to a joint governing body of institute and council members. The building was also used for concerts, dances, receptions, lectures and lodge meetings. 

Evolution of the library: The scope of the book collection widened when the Free Lending Library began in 1926 and the children’s section opened in 1929. The library surged ahead with a special services section and, from 1962, a history section. Books were delivered to housebound people in 1966 and by 1970 a non-English language collection had commenced. With 6,000 members and 15,000 books by 1970, the library was suffering from insufficient shelves, space and money with which to rectify the problem. There was an overwhelming need for a new library and in 1971 the Moonee Valley Regional Library was established. To celebrate the building’s centenary, a most successful exhibition of student’s work was organised.

Saved for posterity and the people: The mechanics’ institute, which had housed the library for 108 years and had been the centre of community activities, was saved from demolition and renovated in 1978. It continues to provide community services, an arts complex including the Mechanics’ Institute Gallery and perpetuates the tradition of nurturing the educational, intellectual and recreational life of the people of Brunswick. It has also obtained national and state recognition.

Pam Baragwanath

References:

Brunswick and Pentridge Press. (1861). 6 July, 7 September.

Brunswick Community History newsletter (1984) Vol.2, May. 

History of the Brunswick Mechanics’ Institute.

Program advertisements from the Brunswick Medium (1909 and 1910).

Frame by frame: a history of Brunswick's picture theatres pp 34-5.

Note: for further information see:

Mechanics' Institutes Resource Centre (MIRC)  List of holdings 

and Prahran Mechanics' Institute Library catalogue www.pmi.net.au