Mechanics' Institutes of Australia


Mechanics' Institutes were a Victorian institution which spread to the corners of the English speaking world, including Australian colonies where they were set up in virtually every colony. The world's first Mechanics' Institute was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, in October 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh.
In Australia, the first Mechanics' Institute was established in Hobart in 1827, followed by the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts in 1833, Newcastle School of Arts in 1835, then the Melbourne Mechanics' Institute established in 1839. From the 1850s, Mechanics' Institutes quickly spread throughout Victoria wherever a hall, library or school was needed. Over 1200 Mechanics' Institutes were built in Victoria but just over 500 remain today, and only six still operate their lending library services.

Listing

New South Wales

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Still operating as libraries
Only a few mechanics' institutes still operate as libraries: list derived from the 's Library Directory 2018.

New South Wales

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Notable schools of arts in Queensland include: