Ballarat Ironworkers' and Polytechnic Association

Ballarat Ironworkers' and Polytechnic Association card, University of Ballarat Historical Collection (Cat. No. 5529)

History

Ballarat Ironworkers' and Polytechnic Association Syllabus, University of Ballarat Historical Collection (Cat. No. 5529 )

The Ballarat Ironworkers' and Polytechnic Association (also known as the Ballarat Ironworkers' Association) was established on June 2, 1882. Weekly meetings were held at the Ballarat School of Mines. William Fenton was the inaugural secretary and was still in this position in 1902, at which time W.D. Graham was president and F. Gray was the librarian. The 1898 Ballarat School of Mines Students Magazine states that the association had 120 members and a well-selected library of 250 volumes.

The ironworkers of those days were a notable body of men, skilled in their trade and interested in matters outside the workshops.

Information was given to subscribers regarding upcoming lectures and the services offered by the Association, stating that "The Objects of the Association are purely Educational, and can be taken advantage of by all classes. Meetings are held weekly (on Saturday nights), when Papers are read by members and friends. There is also a good Circulating and Reference Library."

According to the will of James Oddie in 1911 fifty pounds was left to the Ballarat Ironworkers' Association.

In an article published in the Kalgoorlie Western Argus on Tuesday 28 November 1916, a letter from Mr D. McDougall, a lecturer at the School of Mines WA to his friend, Mr E. K. Beaumont is quoted. In this letter, Mr McDougall states that "I went to the Ballarat Ironworkers' Association in the School of Mines last night and listened to a very interesting lecture on the violin. I was formally introduced to the members, and of course made a speech. I gave my first lecture to this society 23 years ago."

6th July, 1917

J. Sainsbery Esq,

Hon. Sec. Ballarat Ironworkers' Association,

26 Anderson Street west,

Ballarat

Dear Sir,

I have received and thank you for your favor of the 5th inst. enclosing cheque for 10 pounds, being the amount of your association's annual subscription to this school.

Please find herewith our receipt for same.

Yours faithfully,

L.St.G.P. Austin

Registrar

The Ballarat Ironworkers' and Polytechnic Association disbanded in 1931. A notice in the Ballarat Mail dated July 22, 1931 reported that the committee handed the Association's remaining funds to the Ballarat School of Mines, totalling £164, for the purpose of founding "a scholarship in perpetuity in one of the branches of engineering."

The People

H. Bradbury, Hon. Secretary in 1890

External Links

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--Alana McDonald 11:44, 23 August 2011 (EST)

--C.K.Gervasoni 15:03, 14 February 2013 (EST)