The Entranceway to the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute - Sturt Street, Ballarat

            Construction on the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute on Sturt Street began in 1859.  As a Gold Rush city with a growing population of miners, a number of eminent philanthropic citizens of Ballarat were anxious to provide working men with a chance to improve their work skills and their general education.  It took the dedication of locals another decade to complete the Sturt Street facade, and a further decade for the billard room to be completed.

Built in the Classical style, the three storey Mechanics' Institute has a very restrained facade with minimal decoration.  It features a beautiful bull nosed verandah edged with ornate cast iron lacework along the street to keep out the heat of the afternoon sun.  Over the arched entrance, the letters of the Mechanic’s Institute are spelt in delicate, florid gilt letters.  It also has a balcony extending from a scalloped niche on the first floor and a balconette on the upper floor.  Crowning the building is the figure of Pallas Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration  civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.

Historically, Mechanics' Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men. As such, they were often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more knowledgeable and skilled employees. The Mechanics' Institutes were used as 'libraries' for the adult working class, and provided them with an alternative pastime to gambling and drinking in pubs.

Taken in: Australia / Victoria / Ballarat / Bakery Hill (show map)

Taken on: May 13, 2012

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Ballarat Mechanic's Institute

Mechanic's Institute

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Sets appears in: • Victoriana • The Ballarat Mechanics' Institute

Groups appears in: • Architecture and Buildings • architectural photography more » • Architecture and Forms • IMAGE`S OF BUILDINGS - OLD AND NEW • Central Victoria, Australia • Architecture of Days Gone By • Ballarat • Architecture Directory • School of Digital Photography « less

Camera: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, 8.3mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS
Aperture:	f/3.2
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	8.3mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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