Governor marks 165 years of BMI reading room

GOVERNOR of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, has visited the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute.

Ms Gardner was on site last week to celebrate the 165th anniversary of the opening of the first reading room in the BMI building at 117 to 119 Sturt Street.

She visited the institute last week during a short trip to Ballarat as part of a regional tour, and she said she will return for an official visit at a later date.

Governors are the historic patrons of mechanics’ institutes and Ms Gardner said it is great to see Ballarat’s still in operation

“It’s a wonderful part of Victoria and indeed Australia’s heritage,” she said.

“The fact that it’s still operating and used by the community, that continuous about 160-year history, is just heartening to see.”

On 28 September 1860 the foundation stone of the back section of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute was laid.

The first part of the building included the reading room as well as a library, lecture room and two classrooms on the ground floor.

A large hall was located on the first floor that could seat 1200 people.

BMI heritage collections curator Ellen Becker said although the room was built in six weeks, it has stood the test of time.

“Amazingly this is our room of least concern which is strange because it’s our busiest room,” she said.

“It is still standing strongly today… but heritage buildings are a struggle, particularly the facade and the broader infrastructure.

“We are a not-for-profit institution; we do rely on membership subscriptions and other benevolence support.”