The Remember the Mechanics? Travelling Exhibition was created with the assistance of a Public Record Office Victoria grant. It was launched at the Eaglehawk Mechanics' Institute in October 2000 by the Hon. Bob Cameron and has been to over twenty venues since then.


The idea of putting a plaque on Mechanics' Institute Halls was advanced by Committee member Alan Tonkin in 1999. Committee member Paul Permezel brought it to reality in 2003 and since then plaques have been put installed at Maldon Athenaeum, Ballan Mechanics' Institute,Tallarook Mechanics' Institute, Lilydale Athenaeum, Berwick Mechanics' Institute and Taradale Mechanics' Institute with more on order.

If your Institute would like to order a plaque they are $185.00 which includes GST. Orders should be placed at least five months ahead with Dr Frank Hurley on (03) 5330 3052.

The following plaques have been installed:

  • No. 1 -Maldon Athenaeum. Unveiled 21 April 2003.
  • No. 2 - Ballan Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 6 December 2003.
  • No. 3 - Tallarook Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled by Sir Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer, former Premier of Victoria, 6 April 2003.
  • No. 4 - Taradale Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 2003.
  • No. 5 - Lilydale Athenaeum. Unveiled by Richard Longmore, Chairman of Directors of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company 22 February 2004.
  • No. 6 - Berwick Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library. Unveilled March 2004.
  • No. 7 - Minyip Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley, President, Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria, June 2004.
  • No. 8 - Frankston Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled December 2004.
  • No. 9 - Mt Eccles Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled by Cr David Lewis, Mayor, South Gippsland Shire Council, 12 June 2005.
  • No. 10 - Arthurs Creek Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled by Pam Baragwanath, Sunday 11 September 2005.
  • No. 11 - Prahran Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled by Chris Gallagher, Chair, Heritage Council of Victoria, 8 October 2005.
  • No. 12 - Digby Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 2005.
  • No. 13 - Melbourne Athenaeum. Unveiled by Governor of Victoria, John Landy, Melbourne Athenaeum, 24 October 2005.
  • No. 14 - Benalla Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled October 2005.
  • No. 15 - Jindivick Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 2005.
  • No. 16 - Emerald Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 2005.
  • No. 17 - Dean Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 3 September 2006 No. 18 - Oakleigh Mechanics’ Institute. Unveiled 29 September 2006.


This massive cooperative project is fast coming together under the leadership of Lorraine Huddle, with technical scanning input by Peter Pereya, and data from Pam Baragwanath and the Department of Sustainability and Environment - Historic Places Branch, with the valued support of Ivar Nelsen and Janette Hodgson. So far some 2500 pictures have been scanned and some 4000 pages of data have been uploaded.

In the near future it will be possible to obtain a copy of the information we hold on your Institute, this can include contemporary photos, historical photos including those of Alf Wesson taken in the 1960s, heritage rating, bibliography, and even perhaps a plan. It's a massive corpus of material that will save people a lot of time in the future.