Mechanics' Institutes in the Frame

Celebrate the history and heritage of our beautiful Mechanics’ Institute, Athenaeum and Hall buildings from urban and regional Victoria and come to an exhibition to be held in central Victoria’s Castlemaine on 9-10 September 2017. Set up as places for the working man to gain knowledge and socialise in the early 1800s, many of these buildings still serve a vital role in the social and cultural life of many communities.

Artist and illustrator Damian Callanan has captured the beauty and charm of twenty examples of the ornate and simple buildings in Victorian towns and cities. The oldest is the Melbourne Athenaeum, established as the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution in 1839 and the Emerald Mechanics’ Institute was built in more recent times. The style of architecture varies from, the splendid, highly ornate establishments, which were built in the glory of the goldrush era, to the very modest simple features of places established by small farming communities as meeting halls. The works being sold are framed original watercolour paintings and there are 2019 calendars featuring twelve Institutes, one for each month, and cards which feature the twenty Institutes individually.