Click on images to enlarge
1870
The glory of Mudgee is in its Mechanics' Institute. This building is a sign of the wealth and public spirit that prevails in the town and its vicinity, for it is on an extensive scale, and cost a large sum of money altogether. Here is a library of 2100 vols., on the great heads of literature, science, history, biography, classics, poetry, and fiction. Many being valuable and well got up works, among which I noticed the Encyclopedia Britannica and Imperial Dictionary. The members number 135, and the institute is thirteen years old. The principal rooms are a reading-room 45 x 2Û, » smoking-room 21 x 18, and a large hall overhead; the length and breadth of the building 72 x 36. In this are a grand piano (£120), and a harmonium (£90) with ten stops; the entrance to the room, however, is sacrificed to the area, and is made under the band gallery. The librarian's residence is an excellent four-roomed cottage, with a good entrance hall erected at a cost of £360. Debating classes, lectures, readings, musical and literary entertainments, are the order of the night during the winter months; but the present winter has been too wintry to pursue these amusements without stilts. Mr. Cassia, the honorary and courteous secretary, tells me that the undertaking was initiated by ten gentlemen putting down £50 each, to which È500 another was added in smaller sums, the Government doubling the Subscription - £2000. The building, however, cost in all £2700, and the income for the year (1869-70) was £397. The annual meeting occurs on the last Friday in April1
.
1880
30 October 1880
1895
20 December 1895
THE MECHANICS.
As will be seen on comparing the picture of this building with that on a previous page, very little improvement has been made on the exterior during the past thirty years, but the erection of the balcony was a very great improvement, for when it is closed in by shutters, provided for the purpose, the balcony forms a splendid supper room for the frequent dances held on the favorite floor of the Mechanics'. Since the erection of the Town Hall theatrical companies have always gone to where the stage is larger and thus the old building lost a deal of its popularity. But for dances the old place will hold its own for many years yet, its splendid floor and the many conveniences, together with its ample room, appealing with effect to the lovers of the light fantastic3
.
1896
24 October 1896
1899
23 September 1899
THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
That excellent institution, the Mechanics' Institute, is still as popular as ever, and its subscribers' roll has been added to of late years. The library is kept carefully up to date in every branch of literature, and now contains 4500 volumes by standard authors, 2316 of which are works of fiction. The large reading-room, in which there are some 150 mineral specimens, is supplied with English, colonial, and American magazines and newspapers, and a pleasant hour can be spent there before a cosy fire in winter and spring, reading up all the current news from every part of the world. The building is a fine two-story brick structure, with a large hall upstairs, where the principal social reunions and balls in the town are usually held. The librarian is Mrs. Thurston, her late husband being brother to Sir John Thurston, late Governor of Fiji. The secretary is Miss Thurston. The names of the office-bearers are: - President, J. McFarlane; vice-presidents, CD. Meares, solicitor, J. J. Phillips, Bank of New South Wales, T. H. Wilkinson, Police Magistrate, and A. E. Thomas; treasurer, H. S. Thomas; committee, Messrs. C. W. Willis, W. F. Kellett, J. Blumer, E. A. McMahon, A. Gaskin, B. Stacy, Commercial Bank; H. Collins; J. Longmuir, George Stewart, G. D. Young, J. R. Hewat, W. C. Carter, and H. C. Campbell4
.
1905
6 September 1905
The Mechanics Institute was founded in 1857, the first premises being in Short-street. Later the members held their meetings in a house in Market-lane, and finally the present building was erected in 1861, the late Hon. G. H. Cox laying the foundation stone. Mr. A. B. Thomas, who resigned his position as vice-president at the recent annual meeting, was one of the original founders of the Institution. The library, which contains more than 6000 volumes, and the reading room (which is well supplied with newspapers and periodicals) are well patronised, whilst the billiard room, with two tables, is a good source of amusement. The Institute is in a flourishing condition, and the finances are in a healthy state. At the annual general meeting of the institution held a few weeks ago, the balance sheet showed that the income for the year was £516 6s 6d, and the expenditure £453 9s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £62 16s 11d. The membership on June 30, 1905, was 237, being one less than on the same day in 1904. The office-bearers of the Mechanics' Institute are; President; Mr. F. Blood; vice presidents, Messrs. W. Kellett, D. B. Acton, D. G. Macdougall, and W. Tait; committee, Rev. T. D. Evans, Messrs. E. H. Duggan, A. C. Gaskin. A. F. Mule, W. T. Hattersley, W. Jones, F. K. Leslie, R. Loneragan, A. C. Low, A. McKessur, E. Turner, P. A. Webb, G. B. Young; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. S. Thomas; trustees, Messrs. A. F. Cameron, B. Stacy, C. D. Meares; secretary and librarian, Mr. C. J. Train5
.
1911
15 October 1911
A FOUNDATION STONE.
Monday last was the jubilee of the laying of the foundation stone of the Mechanic's Institute, Mudgee, by the late G. H. Cox, M.L.C. His son, Mr. Vincent Dowling Cox, brought the silver trowel used at the ceremony into town, and left it on view at the Mechanic's Institute6
.
1970
14 September 1970
“For Sale” Sign For Institute
Mudgee’s Mechanics’ Institute will be put up for sale.
Tenders will be called for the sale of the old Perry Street building in the near future.
At the same time, the Army will be told that it could be a suitable training venue for a C.M.F. unit.
Mudgee Municipal Council decided on this course of action after Education Minister (Mr. Cutler) had rejected an offer of the premises to the Education Department.
Mr. Cutler, through the Member for Burrendong (Mr. Roger Wotton) said he was not prepared to authorise his department to acquire the institute.
The mayor (Ald. A. W. Cox) said he believed the objection was probably that it was too close to an hotel.
He said Mr. Cutler, when he visited Mudgee, had shown an interest in the offer and had said he would inspect the premises with Mr. Wotton.
“I feel it would be a definite advantage to the Education Department to have it and I feel we should do something and take an option on the whole block,” Ald. Cox said.
Ald. R. A. Roth suggested officers of the department should be invited to discuss the proposal with the council.
He also suggested a further look at the building with Mr. Wotton.
Ald. J. Hill suggested the Army might be interested and Ald. E. G. Moufarrige suggested tenders be called for the building’s sale.
Ald. Roth: “Ask the Minister what reasons he has against it and ask him to discuss it further.
“There’s no use bringing the Army in.
“It would be a suitable place for the Education Department.
“The schools are getting cramped for room.”
Ald. Roth said the argument that the institute was too close to an hotel was “very weak.”
Town Clerk (Mr. B. R. Sengleman) pointed out that vacant possession could not be given on the building yet as it still housed the municipal library.
Ald. Moufarrige said the Mayor and Town Clerk could “go into the details.”
He said the move could renew the Education Department’s interest7
.
1972
26 January 1972
MOVE TO KEEP LIBRARY AT MECHANICS
Development of the Mechanics’ Institute building will be considered for a possible new Mudgee library.
This was mooted at Monday’s Council meeting by Ald. Neville H. Paine in a notice of motion.
Ald. Paine was supported in his motion by Ald. Carmel Croan.
Last year Ald. Leonard put forward the idea that the new library building and meeting rooms should be built adjacent to the Baby Health Centre in Market Street.
Ald. Paine asked that this suggestion also be fully investigated and that proposals to convert McCully building into a library be held in abeyance.
The Municipal Engineer, Mr. Allan Brown was instructed to prepare a full report on the two proposals.
Ald. Paine said on Monday he had been thinking about Ald. Leonard’s proposal.
He thought if the money were spent on the Mechanics building, Mudgee could keep it as the library and also restore a building, which has been listed by the National Trust.
He said there was plenty of room also for senior citizens.
There was also another floor and accommodation for some Mudgee organisation could be made here, he said.
He said the National Trust had a panel of architects and he suggested consulting the Trust about the restoration of the building8
.
2008
15 January 2008
Hotel plans
Mudgee’s former Mechanics Institute, at the corner of Perry and Gladstone Streets, will be converted into a boutique hotel after being purchased by the Orange-based de Russie Group, which has a boutique hotel in Dubbo and suites in Orange.
De Russie Group spokeswoman Lisa Madigan, in an exclusive interview with The Weekly, unveiled the exciting plans yesterday morning in a telephone interview from Orange.
“We’re really looking forward to the project,” Mrs Madigan said.
Contracts were exchanged before Christmas and the Madigans (Lisa and partner, Mark) are awaiting settlement so will discuss the project further if all goes according to plan in mid-February.
However, they did outline their dream for the historic property.
Mrs Madigan noted the de Russie Group has been keen to find a Mudgee property for years and when told of the former Mechanics Institute they checked it out on the internet and were “inspired.”
They built the de Russie Suites in Orange and are now looking forward to the challenge of a restoration of the 1862 building. Lisa has studied architecture and interior design so is really chomping at the bit.
“We have been wishing for an old building,” she said.
The idea involves a heritage façade with a more contemporary structure behind.
However, the Madigans say their development will by sympathetic with the history of the building and they are already in discussion with council’s heritage advisor.
They are talking about building 21 rooms in the serviced apartment hotel.
They think a boutique hotel would suit Mudgee, which is renowned for its food and wine. They would also like to market to corporate executives.
Once settlement is achieved, work can begin.
The Madigans said it took about 10 months to build their hotel in Orange but this project will involve a restoration, including hopefully restoring the original balcony to its former glory, as well as an addition.
“We have had quite a few looks. We’ve had drawings and draftsman there and everybody is just chomping at the bit while still doing it sympathetically to the old building,” Mrs Madigan said.
“I’m just really chuffed with the relationship so far between the relevant parties, including council
“Everything has fallen into place quite nicely9 .”