The Melbourne Athenaeum Library will be closed on Saturday April 25 for the ANZAC Day public holiday.
The library will be open regular hours on Friday April 24 and Monday April 27.
Central to the history of the Melbourne Athenaeum is its Archives. They record the history of the city’s first public cultural and collecting institution, which commenced in 1839 as the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution.
The Melbourne Athenaeum Archives reflect the significant role the institution played in educating the public and providing opportunities for self-learning through the wider mechanics’ institute movement that swept through Australia in the nineteenth century. The Archives provide an insight into Melbourne’s literary, theatrical, artistic, cinematic and social history and consist of artefacts, artworks, furniture, photographs, exhibition catalogues, theatre and cinema programs and posters, building plans, books, newspapers, correspondence, annual reports and minutes.
Spanning from 1839 to the present day, the Archives document the activities of the Melbourne Athenaeum Library, the museum (established in 1840 and disbanded by the 1870s), two theatres, the Athenaeum Art Gallery (which ran for over 60 years) as well as the construction and renovation of its heritage-listed building in Collins Street.
The Archives also document the wide variety of people who have been involved with the institution, including library members, tenants, performers, artists, staff and committee members.
The Melbourne Athenaeum Archives are open via appointment. For anyone wanting information about the Archives or to view items from the collection please email archives@melbourneathenaeum.org.au
Explore the Melbourne Athenaeum Archives. Click here to access eHive.
For anyone wanting further information from or about the Melbourne Athenaeum Archives please get in touch by emailing
