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.
Download MIV’s Historical Plaques Program flyer for all the latest information
How to apply for a Plaque
MIV HISTORICAL PLAQUES PROGRAM
Purpose
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 the Institute. 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.
Description
The plaques are oval in shape (~30cm x ~20cm), 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 (approx. 120 words), and also the plaque number. Pins on the plaque's reverse will enable fixing to stone, concrete or wooden buildings. They can be mounted on board if required. The plaques have an expected life span of about fifty years.
Your Building
Your plaque will have a Mechanics’ Origins and a brief description of your Institute.
Cost
Members will receive a quote for the cost of their plaque when they apply, there is an additional cost for non-Members (quote includes delivery), and fitting will be the responsibility of the individual Institute or building manager. Please allow at least two months for orders to be filled.
MIV Plaques Program
Additional information about plaques already unveiled is available from MIV’s Plaques website: mivic.org.au/plaques.html
Please contact MIV Secretary for the most current details on MIV’s Historical Plaques Mechanics’
Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Inc.
The Secretary
PO Box 1080 Windsor Vic 3181
mivic.org.au
2003
1. Maldon Athenaeum
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.
2. Ballan Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 6 December 2003. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
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.
4. Taradale Mechanics' Institute
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.
2004
5. Lilydale Athenaeum
Unveiled by Richard Longmore, Chairman of Directors of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company, 22 February 2004. This plaque is situated inside the Institute.
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.
7. Minyip Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley, MIV President, 12 June 2004. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, in the main town meeting room.
8. Frankston Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled December 2004. This plaque is not currently on display.
2005
9. Mt 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.
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.
11. Prahran Mechanics' Institute
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.
12. Digby Mechanics' Institute
Erected 11 November 2005. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute on the Digby Mechanics' Institute sign.
13. Melbourne Athenaeum
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.
14. Benalla Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled October 2005. This plaque is situated to the left of the main entrance.
15. 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.
16. Emerald Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 2005. This plaque is not currently on display.
2006
17. Dean Hall & Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 3 September 2006. This plaque is situated inside the Institute on the eastern wall of the Hall.
18. Oakleigh Mechanics' Institute
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.
2007
19. Newham Mechanics' Institute
Erected 2007. This plaque is situated inside the Institute, on the eastern wall of the Hall.
20. Nagambie Mechanics' Institute
Erected October 2007. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
21. Mia Mia Mechanics' Institute
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.
2008
22. Mortlake Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 2008. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
20?? (date unknown)
23. Kinglake West Mechanics' Institute
This plaque is currently missing.
2010
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.
25. Croydon Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Pam Baragwanath, 23 February 2010. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
2012
26. Elmore Athenaeum Hall
Erected 14 June 2012. This plaque is situated outside the Institute, to the left of the front door.
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.
28. Laen Mechanics' Institute
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.
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.
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.
31. Bonnie Doon Free Library
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.
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.
2013
33. Olinda Mechanics' Institute
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.
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.
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.
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.
37. Kallista Mechanics' Institute
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.
38. Whorouly Library Hall
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.
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.
2014
40. Lardner Mechanics' Institute
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.
41. Rushworth Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Jeff "Chief" Perry, 10 May 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute.
42. Acheron Mechanics' Institute
Erected 16 June 2014. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
43. Barfold Mechanics' Institute
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.
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.
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.
46. Barwon Heads Community Hall
Unveiled. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
2016
47. Ruffy Public Hall
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.
2015
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.
2016
49. Kynton Mechanics' Institute
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.
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.
2017
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.
53. Merton Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled April 2017. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
54. Amphitheatre Mechanics' Institute
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.
56. Ararat Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 8 December 2016.
57. Sea View Mechanics' Institute
58. Romsey Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 2017. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
2018
59. Taggerty Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 2018. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
60. Wandong Public Hall
Unveiled by Peter Dore 25 April 2018. This plaque is situated out the front of the Institute, to the right of the front door.
61. Yarck Mechanics' Institute
Erected July 2018. This plaque is situated on the front of the Institute, to the left of the front door.
62. Tatura Mechanics' Institute
63. Neerim Junction Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled 11 November 2018. This plaque is situated on the outside of the Institute.
64. Ballarat Mechanics' Institute
Unveiled by Dr Frank Hurley 17 November 2018.
2019
65. Mt Egerton Mechanics' Institute
Information to come
2021
66. Pyramid Hill Mechanics' Institute & Free Library
Information to come
2022
67. Horsham Mechanics' Institute
Information to come
2023
68. Lancefield Mechanics' Institute
Information to come