The plaques are oval in shape (~30cm wide x ~20cm high), with a blue baked enamel surface and white lettering. In consultation with Heritage Victoria, they recommended that they be the same blue colour as their plaques so as to be noticed from afar as marking an historic building. The plaque will carry the MIV logo, some standard text and a personalised space for details of the Institute, and also the plaque number. Pins on the plaque's reverse will enable fixing to stone, concrete or wooden buildings. The plaques have an expected life-span of about fifty years.
Download MIV's Historical Plaques Program flyer for all the latest information
Historical Plaques Program
The purpose of the MIV Historical Plaques Program is to inform the public of the history of Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria and also give a snippet of history about the individual Institute. 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 installed to mark special occasions within Institutes all across the State. These plaques have been used to commemorate a significant date in the history of an Institute or town; be it an anniversary, or a significant renovation or restoration project.
Alphabetical list of plaque recipients:
(click on the name to jump to the details)
Download MIV's Historical Plaques Program flyer for all the latest information
Click on the map for larger view.
Click on the year to jump:
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Unknown |
| 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
1.
Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley, MIV President, 21 April 2003. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
2.
Unveiled 6 December 2003. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
3.
Tallarook Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Sir Rupert 'Dick' Hamer, former Premier of Victoria, and Jim Lowden, MIV Secretary, 6 April 2003. This plaque is not currently on display.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
4.
Unveiled by Graham Christie, President of the Taradale Historical Group, 2003. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, on the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
5.
Unveiled by Richard Longmore, Chairman of Directors of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company, 22 February 2004. This plaque is situated inside the Institute.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
6.
Berwick Mechanics' Institute and Free Library
Unveiled by Joyce Hayes, BMIFL President, and Jim Lowden, MIV Secretary, 17 March 2004. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
7.
Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley, MIV President, 12 June 2004. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, in the main town meeting room.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
8.
Frankston Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled December 2004. This plaque is not currently on display.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
9.
Mount Eccles Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr David Lewis, Mayor, South Gippsland Shire Council, 12 June 2005. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the western wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
10.
Arthurs Creek Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Pam Baragwanath, 11 September 2005. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the eastern wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
11.
Unveiled by Ms Chris Gallagher, Heritage Council of Victoria Chair, 8 October 2005. This plaque is situated on the front of the old Institute (140 High Street, Prahran), to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
12.
Erected 11 November 2005. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute on the Digby Mechanics' Institute sign.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
13.
Unveiled by John Landy, Govenor of Victoria, 24 October 2005. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
14.
Unveiled October 2005. This plaque is situated to the left of the main entrance.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
15.
Jindivick Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by John Pretty, President of Jindivick Mechanics' Institute, 8 December 2005. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, on the east wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
16.
Unveiled 2005. This plaque is not currently on display.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
17.
Dean Hall and Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 3 September 2006. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the eastern wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
18.
Unveiled by Cr Joy Banerji, City of Monash Mayor, 27 September 2006. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
19.
Erected 2007. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, on the eastern wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
20.
Erected October 2007. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
21.
Unveiled by Mrs Beryl Ross, 27 Octobert 2007. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
22.
Unveiled 2008. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
23.
Kinglake West Mechanics' Institute
This plaque is currently missing.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
24.
Little River Mechanics' Institute
Erected 1 August 2010. This plaque is situated inside the foyer of the Institute, above the door to the main Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
25.
Unveiled by Pam Baragwanath, 23 February 2010. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
26.
Erected 14 June 2012. This plaque is situated outside the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
27.
Malmsbury Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Rob Guthrie, 26 April 2012. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
28.
Laen Mechanics' Institute site
Unveiled by Ivan Landwehr at the site, 18 November 2012. This plaque is erected on an old tractor tyre frame and marks the site of the former Institute.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
29.
Stanley Athenaeum and Public Room
Unveiled by Jim Lowden, former MIV Secretary, 25 August 2012. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
30.
Leongatha Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Jim Fawcett, 14 November 2012. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
31.
Unveiled by Bill Maxwell and Steve Arbuthnot, 24 November 2012. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
32.
Spring Creek Mechanics' Institute and Free Library (Fawcett Hall)
Unveiled by Mayor John Walsh, 24 November 2012. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the southern wall of the Hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
33.
Unveiled by Joan Zavan on 20 October 2013. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the northern wall of the Hall, to the right of the stage.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
34.
Narre Warren Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Judith Graley MLA on 24 November 2013. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, in the foyer, beside the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
35.
Tarwin Lower Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Kieran Kennedy and John Classon on 5 September 2013. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
36.
Footscray Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Keith O'Brien, Footscray Mechanics' Institute Vice-President and Judith Dwyer, MIV Secretary, 29 November 2013. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
37.
Unveiled by Gwendolen DeLacy and Viv Benton, 21 December 2013. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, on the east side of the Hall, over the mantlepiece.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
38.
Erected 30 December 2013. Yet to be unveiled. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
39.
Alexandra Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Margaret Ray, Mayor of Murrindindi Shire , 25 March 2015. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front doors.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
40.
Unveiled by Cr Peter Kostas, 27 April 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
41.
Rushworth Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Jeff "Chief" Perry, 10 May 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
42.
Erected 16 June 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
43.
Erected 2014 to commemorate the opening of Regional Arts Victoria's Home Is Where the Hall Is month by Ms Amanda Millar MLC, 27 October 213. The Plaque is situated inside the Institute, on the south wall of the main hall.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
44.
Christmas Hills Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 2014. This plaque is situated on the south side of the Institute, to the right of the courtyard-facing doors.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
45.
Wallan Free Library & Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Mrs Kerry Page, 8 November 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
46.
Unveiled. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
2016
47.
Unveiled by Cr Colleen Furlanetto, Mayor of Strathbogie Shire, and Henry Noye, President of Ruffy Public Hall, 22 May 2016. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
48.
Jeffcott North Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Ken James, 20 November 2015. This plaque is erected on an old header tyre frame and marks the site of the former Institute.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
49.
Kyneton Mechanics' Institute
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
50.
Somerville Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Lynn Bowden and Cr Graham Pittock, Mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire, 12 February 2016. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
51.
Rhyll Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Cr Pamela Rothfield, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council, 20 November 2016. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
52.
Moonambel Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Bronwyn Lowden, MIV Vice-President, 23 November 2017. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
53.
Unveiled April 2017. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
54.
Amphitheatre Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
55.
Inverleigh Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled December 2016. This plaque is situated on the north side of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
56.
Unveiled 8 December 2016.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
57.
Unveiled.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
58.
Unveiled 2017. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
59.
Unveiled 2018. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
60.
Unveiled by Peter Dore 25 April 2018. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
61.
Erected July 2018. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
62.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
63.
Neerim Juntion Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 11 November 2018. This plaque is situated on the outside of the Institute.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
64.
Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley 17 November 2018.
Full wording and photos at Open Plaques >>>
65.
Mount Egerton Mechanics' Institute*
*Yet to be unveiled.
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