The Stanley Athenaeum

STANLEY ATHENAEUM and PUBLIC ROOM

Main Street, Stanley

THE BUILDING and ITS SOCIAL HISTORY

A Stanley Public Room was built by public subscription in 1856 and opened in 1857 at the height of the gold rush at the Nine Mile (now known as Stanley). The Athenaeum was formed when a meeting at the Public Room in 1863 elected a committee of ten men to establish a library and a librarian was appointed. When the original wooden building was destroyed by fire in the late 1860's or early 1870's the present brick building was built to replace it on the same site and opened in 1874. It is believed much of the collection was salvaged from this fire.

Later in 1891 an additional building was added to the rear of the Main Room and this is the building as it exists today. Another reported fire in the roof in 1901 severely damaged the interior of the Main Room and during the renovations the Athenaeum operated from the nearby Oriental Bank. The building was extensively repaired in the 1950's and repainted in 1972.

After ownership passed to the Indigo Shire Council in 1998, extensive capital works were undertaken by Indigo Shire Council on the exterior of the building including the roof, guttering, windows and general repairs.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th century the Stanley Athenaeum has been a lending library and has had a vital role as the centre of many Stanley community events . It has been a smaller venue suitable as a regular meeting place for community groups over the years, such as the Recreation Reserve Committee, Stanley New Year's Day Committee, the Country Women's Association, Red Cross, CFA, LandCare and the Athenaeum Trustees. It has always been a meeting place for small social functions, fundraising events, exhibitions and public meetings.

COLLECTION

Book Collection

Over 3,000 volumes of fiction (adult and children's) and nonfiction published between 1820 and 1960, including reference, biography, government, history, philosophy, poetry, politics, science and natural history and travel.

The collection includes:

Nineteenth century books published in Australia by local authors such as William Guilfoyle, landscape gardener, botanist and Melbourne Botanic Gardens Director, William Guilfoyle (1843-1912) 'Domestic Floriculture' and 'Australian Botany Specially Designed for Use in Schools' (1878), Medicus and the Shroff and Bishop James Moorhouse (1826-1915) are also included

Science books published in the 1800s including: Charles Darwin 'On the Origin of Species' (1861) and 'Expression of Emotions in Man' (1872), Huxley's essays (1863), Alexander von Humboldt 'Cosmos: A Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe' I-VI (1849 -1871) and other works.

A representative collection of world and Australian fiction from the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century’s, including runs of titles by Australian authors including: Ada Cambridge ((1844-1926), seven volumes from 1892 -1901, Ethel Turner (1872-1958), Alan Marshall (1902-1984). Hon Professor Wallace Kirsop says 'copies of three decker novels of the same decades are very likely unique now in this country and consequently of great interest to students of the Victorian Age and of its literature'.

Geoff Craig Local History Collection

Stanley history written and published by local historian Geoff Craig (about 25 volumes) most of these are now out of print and Stanley Athenaeum holds copyright for many of these books. Also a collection of local, institution and thematic histories, many of these are now out of print.

Athenaeum Object and Archive Collection

Minute books, Athenaeum book stamps, clock, backgammon set, euchre objects (tickets, ticket punches), hand bell, keys, gavel, safe

Archive Collection

Borrowing cards for Athenaeum

Records of Stanley organisations and groups including minute books, financial records and documents for the Athenaeum and Hall committees, Country Women's Association, Stanley New Years Day Sports, Recreation Reserve

Furniture and Fittings

Original shelving, wooden tables, chairs, fireplace screen, settle, fire tools, heaters, lamps, lights and a safe

Object Collection

• Geological collection from the local area and other places in Australia
  
• Illuminated addresses, honour boards - Independent Order of Rechabites, Hurdle Flat School
  
• Framed Pictures - Queen Victoria, the Lord's Prayer, Great War 1914-18 Genealogical Record, Beechworth and District
  
• Cups, shields and trophies - football, choral, table tennis, cricket
  

Photograph Collection

• Photographs of town and district, people, buildings, school, cultural sporting groups and other local groups
  
  

MANAGEMENT

The Stanley Athenaeum collection is managed by the Stanley Hall and Athenaeum Committee. In late 2008 a sub-committee, the Friends of the Stanley Athenaeum, was formed to assist with the management of the Athenaeum's building and collection. This group has been meeting regularly and has seven active members.

2009 PUBLIC PROGRAMS

'Finding Charles Darwin in Stanley' exhibition.

This includes a ‘Finding Charles Darwin in Stanley’ themed dinner on 25 July 2009 to raise funds for the conservation of the Athenaeum’s 'On the Origin of the Species'. Bookings available see contact below.

'On the Origin of the Species' – Book display when it returns after conservation.

Artists book exhibition [working title] - works by local artists inspired and informed by the collection.

ACCESS

The Stanley Athenaeum Collection is open for research and reading by appointment

Contact:

Post address: Post Office
Stanley Victoria 3747
Phone: 03 5728 6594
Email: chris.dormer@westnet.com.au