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Abstract

Catalogue of the library of the Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution was printed by William Pratt of Hobart Town in 1843 for the Mechanics Institution Library. The original catalogue is held in the University of Tasmania Library Special & Rare Collections - MM Rare Z 975 .H73 1843

In an article written by Professor Stefan Petrow - The life and death of the Hobart Town Mechanics' Institute 1827-1871 for the Papers and Proceedings: Tasmanian Historical Research Association, 1993: describes the history of the Institution, one of the oldest in Australia.

After an initial meeting held in 1826, the Colonial Times reported that a mechanics' institute had been formed by 'many of the most respectable master tradesmen' on 2 January 1827. Later reports, however, indicate that it was established on 20 March 1827 at a meeting attended not only by all 'the operative mechanics' but by most of the Justices of the Peace and many other gentlemen. Dr James Ross, teacher and editor, chaired this meeting and George Augustus Robinson, builder and philanthropist, was described as the founder of the institute. The aims of the institute were to promote 'useful and scientific knowledge' by 'the voluntary association' of mechanics and others. A library, a reading room, and a museum of 'machines, models, minerals and other objects of natural history' would be set up, as well as 'an experimental workshop and laboratory'. Lectures would be arranged on natural and experimental philosophy, practical mechanics, chemistry and, to a lesser extent, literature and the arts. Classes would be held in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry, emphasising their applications, particularly to perspective, architecture, mensuration, and navigation. Discussion of partisan political and religious issues was proscribed. The Colonial Times supported the Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institute because it was deliberately based on 'the same principles as similar institutions in London and Glasgow', which promoted 'the arts and sciences among the lower working classes' and improved 'trade among all'.

Petrow, Stefan. The life and death of the Hobart Town Mechanics' Institute 1827-1871. Papers and Proceedings: Tasmanian Historical Research Association, Vol. 40, No. 1, Mar 1993: 7-18.

Item Type:	Book
Authors/Creators:	Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution, .
Keywords:	Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution, History, Library, Catalogue
Publisher:	Printed by William Pratt
Copyright Information:	Further dealing in this work, other than fair dealing under the Copyright Act 1968, is not permitted.
Collections:	University of Tasmania > University of Tasmania Special Collections
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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