The Footscray Mechanics Institute on Nicholson Street will share in more than $100,000 in state government funding for mechanics institutes across Victoria.
Local Government Minister Nick Staikos announced the recipients of the 2024-25 Mechanics’ Institutes Grants Programat the Melbourne Athenaeum on Collins Street, Victoria’s first mechanics institute.
“Mechanics’ Institutes were one of the most important social innovations of the 19th century,” said Mr Staikos of the institutes which began in the UK in the Victorian-era when formal education and public libraries were not available to working people.
“These grants will help their invaluable library collections remain for future generations to enjoy.”
While the $9000 grant awarded to the Footcray Mechanics Institute is primarily for preserving and updating its library, secretary Liz Balfour said it would be used elsewhere as well.
“It’ll go towards several things,” Ms Balfour said.
“New books, some marketing and funding of our newsletters and a digitisation station where members will be able to digitise historic negatives, slides and moving images and save them to USB’s.
“And some repairs to the historic tiling on the floor of the portico,” she added.
In all, eleven mechanics institutes across the state were awarded grants to upgrade their libraries and facilities.
The peak body, Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria, will also receive funding of $10,000 to build, print and bind its collection, review its workshop, digitise its records and upgrade its website and accounting software.
