The Croydon people of late have been considering the matter of establishing a mechanics' institute in their district, and it is probable that in a very short time the project will be carried to a successful issue, judging by the interest the residents are displaying in the matter. At a recent meeting of the Croydon progressive league, a sub-committee was appointed to deal with a site on which to erect the institute. Various sites were considered, but none decided upon, principally on account of their unsuitable position and high price. At a later stage the larger matter of a recreation reserve presented itself, and the committee thought that if land for a sports ground could be secured, the building could be erected on a portion of it. With this object in view two sites were taken into consideration, when one was very favorably received, seeing that the position was so central and suitable, and the price asked for it (£15 an acre) reasonable. On Saturday last the matter was brought before the Lillydale council by a letter from the league, asking the council to assist the residents in their efforts by purchasing for recreation purposes a block on the corner of Oxford road, opposite the Croydon state school, and pointing out that the proceeds from the sale of frontages on this road might be utilised in this direction. After a little discussion the council decided, on the motion of Cr Taylor, to make the matter an order of the day for next council meeting. (1) Oxford Road is now known as Mount Dandenong Road. (2)
Even though Lilydale the town is spelt with three Ls, Lillydale the Shire was spelt with 4 Ls. Cr Taylor, who features in many articles connected to the Mechanics' Institute was Arthur Bertram Taylor, of Meadowbank Farm, Lilydale. He was elected to the South West Riding in 1896 and resigned from Council in November 1909; he was Shire President on two occasions. Arthur was a teacher and had founded Camberwell Grammar School in 1886, and was their first Principal. (3)
Ward and Carleton of 341 Collins Street were the Architects selected to design the building. The firm was established in 1897 when Alfred Carleton commenced a partnership with John Vincent Trumbull Ward. (10). It appears that the Architects did design a building that could be erected under the £500 budget, however due to Mr Gwillam asking for modifications of the original plans the cost had increased to £700. When the Shire Secretary queried this with them they replied to the Council, as reported in the Lilydale Express in April 1909 -
From Ward and Carleton, architects for Croydon mechanics' institutes, in reply to the secretary's letter regarding the excessive amount of the tenders received for the building, expressing surprise to learn of a price being received for the hall, on the present drawings, for the moderate sum of £700. The fact was evidently overlooked that they had been instructed from time to time, principally through the council's representative, Mr Gwillam, to make certain additions and alterations. The original design would have come well within the amount specified, £500. (11)
In June, the Healesville Guardian, reported on the results of the tender process and the article also includes a description of the building -
A special meeting of the Lilydale shire council was held last Friday to deal with tenders for the erection of a mechanics' institute and public hall at Croydon. The president and Crs Taylor, Kinsella, Rouget and Hughes were present. Eleven tenders were received and considered. Cr Taylor moved that the tender of T. Rolfe, at £587, be accepted, subject to the alterations in the specifications proving satisfactory, the work to be completed within three months from the signing of the contract. Seconded by Cr Kinsella and carried.
On Thursday evening the president of the Lillydale Shire, Cr R. Blair, officially opened the new
A few years later more extensions were added in the Streamlined Moderne style, also designed by Architect Arthur E. Pretty. (28) These works had been discussed at Council meetings from June 1936 onwards when the issue of renovating and extending the Croydon Mechanics' Hall with the object of converting it into a modern picture theatre was raised and eventually given the go ahead, with a budget of £2000. (29)
From 1992, the building, became a Youth Centre, known as EVs and is used by thousands of young people each year as a meeting place, a source of information and education and as an entertainment venue (39). It is operated by the City of Maroondah.
115 years after it opened the Croydon Mechanics' Institute is still used for community purposes. Whilst I am grateful the building is preserved, it is shame that the three rectangular window at the front of the building have been replaced by a bland square window and the non-original parapet on the verandah partially obscures the Croydon Hall lettering. All that remains now is to find out why it is called EVs.
As it turned out there protests against the sale of some of the Oxford Road frontage, where it was proposed to reduce the width from 3 chains to one chain. The Minister of Lands also refused to allow the road to be reduced to less than a chain and a half. (4)
Croydon Mechanics' Institute.
Photographer: F. W. Wuchatsch. A postcard from my collection.
In September 1907, at a function at the Croydon State School, Mr Taylor announced that arrangements had just been completed for the purchase by the shire council of six acres of land in Croydon for the use of the residents as a recreation reserve (applause), which was a stepping stone to the establishment of cricket, football and tennis grounds, and a Mechanics' Institute. The council was making the people of Croydon a present of six acres of land, which would be placed at the disposal of a committee of management, to be nominated in the course of a few days. He was satisfied, from the energy which Croydon people generally put into their business, that the Mechanics' Institute would soon be an accomplished fact and that it would accommodate a much larger house even than was present that night. (5)
A month later - At a well attended public meeting held at Croydon last night, the shire president, Cr Hughes presiding, Messrs T. H. Gwillam, A. B. Taylor, J. Broadley, Grey-Smith and A. Hall were appointed trustees of three eighths of an acre of the recreation reserve, set apart by the Shire council as a site for a Mechanics' Institute. (6)
It wasn't until July 1908 that the Lillydale Council announced they intended to borrow £1900 for various projects including the purchase of Land for a Mechanics' Institute and Recreation Purposes at Croydon - £103 and Erection of Buildings at Croydon and Ringwood for Mechanics' Institutes (£500 each) - £1000. (7). With the money eventually secured in the October Cr Taylor, moved at the Lillydale Council meeting- that a prize of three guineas be offered for a competitive design for the mechanics' institutes. Seconded by Kinsella. (8) In November 1908, the Shire issued an invitation for designs for the Croydon and Ringwood Mechanics' Institutes. (9)
Inviting designs for the Croydon and Ringwood Mechanics' Institutes
The Argus, November 12, 1908 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10172205
Ward and Carleton of 341 Collins Street were the Architects selected to design the building. The firm was established in 1897 when Alfred Carleton commenced a partnership with John Vincent Trumbull Ward. (10). It appears that the Architects did design a building that could be erected under the £500 budget, however due to Mr Gwillam asking for modifications of the original plans the cost had increased to £700. When the Shire Secretary queried this with them they replied to the Council, as reported in the Lilydale Express in April 1909 -
From Ward and Carleton, architects for Croydon mechanics' institutes, in reply to the secretary's letter regarding the excessive amount of the tenders received for the building, expressing surprise to learn of a price being received for the hall, on the present drawings, for the moderate sum of £700. The fact was evidently overlooked that they had been instructed from time to time, principally through the council's representative, Mr Gwillam, to make certain additions and alterations. The original design would have come well within the amount specified, £500. (11)
Thomas Henry Gwillam is listed in the Electoral Rolls as a Contractor (builder) of Croydon. He was President of the Croydon Progress Association and the Croydon Arbor Day Association, Secretary of the Rifle Club and later Secretary of the Mechanics' Institute. (12)
In May 1909, the Architects advertised for tenders to erect the building. (13)
Tenders for erection of the Croydon Mechanics' Institute
The Age, May 19, 1909 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196127866
In June, the Healesville Guardian, reported on the results of the tender process and the article also includes a description of the building -
A special meeting of the Lilydale shire council was held last Friday to deal with tenders for the erection of a mechanics' institute and public hall at Croydon. The president and Crs Taylor, Kinsella, Rouget and Hughes were present. Eleven tenders were received and considered. Cr Taylor moved that the tender of T. Rolfe, at £587, be accepted, subject to the alterations in the specifications proving satisfactory, the work to be completed within three months from the signing of the contract. Seconded by Cr Kinsella and carried.
The amount of the tender is in excess of the funds, £500, available for the purpose out of the loan raised recently for this and other works, but at the ordinary meeting of the council on the previous Monday Cr Taylor said that there was a sum of £100 lying in the Chief Secretary's office which could be appropriated for the purpose, and that there was a prospect of another vote of £100 being obtained next year, so that there would be a substantial sum remaining for furnishing the building.
Certain alterations and excisions in Messrs Warde & Carleton's original design have been made in order to reduce the cost of building to something like the amount available from the loan. The design as it now stands shows an imposing building of architectural beauty. On either side of the front vestibule entrance are provided ladies and gentlemen's cloak rooms ; next are a lodge room and library, and then the entrance to the main hall, which is 45 x 32ft. The stage extends practically the width of the hall, and outside are the ladies and gentlemen's anterooms. A verandah also runs along one side of the building; and ventilation and lighting are provided for according to the Board of Health regulations. The new building is to be erected on the Croydon reserve, on the original site of the tennis courts. (14)
Croydon townspeople at the newly built Mechanics' Institute, 1909
Image: McGivern, Muriel A History of Croydon (Victor Publishing, 1967), p. 201.
The building was essentially finished in three months and was officially opened on October 27, 1909 by the Premier, Mr Murray, accompanied by Mr. Evans, M.L.C., and Mr. E. H. Cameron, M.L.A. Cr Taylor was also there in his capacity as Shire President together with a large gathering of other officials and towns folk. (15) A monster bazaar to raise money for the Mechanics' Institute to be held over four days was organised by the ladies of Croydon, who were working very enthusiastically, and all kinds of novel idea are being worked out, one of which will be a bachelors' stall, to be presided over by bachelors. The Ladies Committee was headed by Miss Clapperton, with Mrs Yde as secretary. Much interest was anticipated in the bazaar as special trains will be run from Croydon to Melbourne each evening, and from Lilydale to Croydon on the 27th and 30th inst. (16)
When Croydon was a country town, c. 1920s/1930s.
A panorama of Croydon. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co,
State Library of Victoria image H32492/4016
Croydon was a scenic and popular tourist spot as this 1906 letter to the editor of the Lilydale Express notes -
March On, Croydon! - Through all the changing scenes of life we will find it hard to beat such a picturesque place as Croydon and its surroundings. Taking into consideration the short distance it is from our noble city of Melbourne, and its reasonable railway fares, can you wonder that within two years and a-half the accommodation for boarders has risen from ten to twenty-eight houses? We have had thousands visiting Croydon this summer, and many more are wending their footsteps this way at an early period. Many places which blow their trumpets loud cannot be compared to the delightful hill and dale of this elevated township; the soft, beautiful clear air is in itself vigorating to the over-worked city man, and will restore health to the most delicate of our womenly women. The pretty rippling streams, the shady nooks for book lovers, the pleasant drives, rich dairy produce, beautiful fruit, and many other attractions, make it hard to supersede. It has been said by travellers who have visited many parts of Australia, England, and the Continent, that the restful, peaceful air which prevails at Croydon is unsurpassed; the rising of the glorious sun in early morn and its setting when the shadows of the evening and the residents of the place think that when the station accommodation is looked into, a new brick building, similar to the Brighton one, would not look out of place and would be a great improvement upon the present boxes. The Mechanics' Institute and sports ground are progressing rapidly, and Croydon henceforth will not be Croydon in word, but Croydon in deed. Folk wishing for health, happiness and vigor, which is a great help to prosperity, should reside in Croydon, and by so doing would be well repaid. Yours, &c. "A Lover of Croydon." (17)
Croydon Mechanics' Institute - open for business, December 1909
The Argus, December 25, 1909 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10756621
Not surprising then, that soon after opening, the Croydon Mechanics' Institute and surrounding grounds was advertised for let for picnics, parties and Balls. The building was also used for the usual range of activities - a Strawberry Fete in aid of funds for St John's Church of England; performances of the Croydon Comedy Club; a farewell to Mr Hooton, the popular school teacher on his transfer to Mitcham; a ball to raise money for the Relief of Belgium widows and other patriotic functions during the First World War; a concert to celebrate the anniversary of the Presbyterian Church and a bazaar to raise money for St Joseph's Catholic Church. A function held in the hall in October 1919, after the unveiling of the Croydon War Memorial where returned soldiers were 'welcomed home' and presented with an illuminated certificate. (18)
The Mechanics' Institute was also used to show films and the first reference I can find to this was in 1911 when the picture drama, For the Term of his Natural Life was shown in aid of the Football Club. (19). From the mid-1920s films were presented every Saturday night and in July 1931, Mr Gray Edmeston (20) took over the operation and installed a sound system and thus could show 'talkies.' The first 'talkie' film exhibited was The trial of Mary Dugan, with Norma Shearer. (21) More of Mr Edmeston and his involvement with the hall, later.
For the Term of his Natural Life film
The Age, May 12, 1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196198772
The building also housed a Library, the first books for which arrived in February 1910, supplied by the Melbourne Public Library as noted by the Lilydale Express - At a meeting of the trustees of the public library held last week a loan of books was granted on the usual terms to the Croydon mechanics' institute committee. (22) In 1944 as the same paper reported that the Croydon Mechanics' Hygienic Library had received a Council grant of £10. (23) In 1956, a children's library was established in the hall, with free membership to any child. However, there was limited space in the hall with all the other activities it supported and funds were raised to build a new Library. On May 18, 1961 this new Library was officially opened. (24)
As far as the building itself - a caretakers residence was built in 1914, in 1925 the Council granted £40 to go towards renovating and painting the building. The Hall had a board of management who were also guarantors for money lent to them by the Council and in 1928 they were reported as -
F. E. Brown, chairman of board of management of Croydon Mechanics' Hall, forwarding list of names for new guarantors, as follow:— Messrs. F. Arblaster, J. Stuart, A. J. Smith, H. Doods, G. R. Smith, G. Ford. L. Goswinkel, H. Graham, J. T. O'Rourke, F. Turner, J. Bunting, T. Blight. E. Matthews, W. Reed and Captain Robertson.—Adopted. (25)
In 1924, the Croydon branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (R.S. & S.I.L A.) was established. Muriel McGivern, in her history of Croydon, wrote that in 1928 they desired to join forces with Hall committee dividing the work and responsibility and in consequence sharing the management and control of both Hall and grounds, including the use of the Hall for their activities. They also desired to alter the name to Memorial Hall and Mechanics' Institute. After various discussions, including the fact that the Mechanics' Institute constitution required all committee members to also be guarantors and the fact that some of the Committee felt the R.S. & S.I.L A were trying to control the Committee, the amalgamation attempts proved to be fruitless. (26)
In 1933 the hall was extended and the new works were opened in the December. The Fern Tree Gully News reported -On Thursday evening the president of the Lillydale Shire, Cr R. Blair, officially opened the new
extensions to the much improved Croydon Mechanics' Institute. The sum of £400 had been spent in improvements and extending the hall, the interior of which had been lined with a special sound carrying preparation, while the hall had been extended 12 feet. A new stage 20ft. deep had been erected. The building will now hold an extra 120 people, and 150 new tip chairs have been purchased. In introducing Cr Blair, Mr R.Jansen, president of the hall committee, thanked the citizens of Croydon for their interest and support. He wished to particularly thank Mr A. Pretty, architect, and Mr Allan, builder, for the splendid way in which the work of extension had been carried out. (27)
The conversion was at the behest of Mr Edmeston, the afore-mentioned the picture show operator, as the existing hall was too small for his shows and patrons were being turned way on some nights. As part of the negotiations Edmeston would have the right to show pictures on a Saturday night and one weekday night for a term of fifteen years, at a rental of £7/10/- per week for the two evenings each week. (30) In connection with these works, the original committee who also acted as guarantors was annulled, the council took over any financial liabilities and a new committee of councillors and community members was established. (31) Tenders were advertised for the new work in December 1936. (32)
Tenders invited for the extension of the Croydon Mechanics' Institute
Lilydale Express, December 18, 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267488592
Months later in May 1937 there was a progress report in the Lilydale Express -
The contract was signed at the tender fee by the successful tenderers Messrs Pepper and Chenoweth, of Alphington and Ormond, and a start was made on the same day. The contractor states that the work will be completed in 16 weeks, and that arrangements will be made so that the Coronation Ball in the hall on Wednesday, May 12, will not be interfered with. Temporary cloak rooms will be arranged, and the patrons' comfort at the hall will be assured. The plans provide for an imposing brick veneer finished front, with four massive folding glass doors, The hall will be widened 8 feet, and extended 30 feet, with a sloping floor on the new portion. There will be a complete new fibro plaster ceiling throughout, and the inside lining it will be of "Insulite"—a new sound proof material. The new supper room will be 32 feet by 23 feet, and the kitchen will be enlarged to 12 feet by 10 feet. an imposing foyer will contain a curved sweet counter and two modern ticket boxes. The right side entrance will contain the cloak rooms. A new modern bio box will be erected. The new building will present an attractive appearance, and will combine the convenience of picture theatre and a public hall.
It is estimated that this building will meet the requirements of the district for many years to come, and the hall committee have to be congratulated on the successful outcome of their efforts. The contractor states that it is his intention to use as much local labour as possible on the work, and already three local men have been engaged. (33)
Croydon Hall, 1967.
Image: McGivern, Muriel A History of Croydon (Victor Publishing, 1967), p. 198.
The 'new' hall, which ended up costing £2,300 was officially opened by Cr H. Jeeves on September 9, 1937. The local M.L.A., Colonel Knox and the local M.L.C., Mr Chandler were amongst those present. (34) The month before in August, the name of the building had been changed from the Mechanics' Institute to the Croydon Hall, and this new name was proudly displayed on the new facade, as you can see from the photograph, above. (35)
On January 14, 1955 Gray Edmeston, along with W.E. Spencer and R. Kirby opened the Croydon Village Drive-in Theatre (36). However, films were still shown in the Hall as in 1956 it became the venue for the newly established Croydon Film Society. It appears the building was then referred to as the Croydon Theatre or the Croydon Hall Cinema. The Film Society moved to the Mooroolbark Community Centre in 1991, and are now based at the Boronia Cinemas. (37)
Croydon Film Society at the Croydon Theatre (the Hall)
The Age, January 30, 1965, p. 40 from newspapers.com
The building continued to be used for community activities until 1991. Here is a random selection of events held at the Croydon Hall - An exhibition to celebrate the Shire centenary in November 1964; an Art & Craft Show in December 1974; Sewerage was connected to the building in 1979; the Croydon Community School used it as a venue for their performance, The Frogs by Aristophanes in November 1981; the Croydon Horticultural Society held a Spring Show in October 1985; in 1987 it was the venue for the auction of seventeen Main Street retail properties; The Angels played there in December 1990; there was a Garden Show there in March 1991. (38)
Centenary of local government in 1964 at Croydon Hall
The Age, November 16, 1964, p. 11 from newspapers.com
Art & Craft Exhibition at Croydon Hall in 1974
The Age, December 14, 1974, p. 19 from newspapers.com
Auction of Main Street properties in the Hall in 1987
The Age August 8, 1987, p. 82 from newspapers.com
EVs Youth Centre - you can still see the original 1909 building behind the 1937 brick extension.
Image: Suzanne Burville
Acknowledgement -The entry on the Croydon Mechanics' Institute in the book These Walls Speak Volumes: a history of Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria by Pam Baragwanath and Ken James (published by the authors in 2015) was a useful starting point for this post.
Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove, related to the Mechanics' Institute and some of the people involved with it. Access it here.
Footnotes
(1) Box Hill Reporter, November 3, 1905, see here.
(3) Arthur Taylor - See various articles in my Trove list, here; including his obituary in The Argus, October 22, 1938, see here. Also the Camberwell Grammar website https://www.cgs.vic.edu.au/our-school/our-history
(4) Lilydale Express, October 19, 1906, see here.
(5) Lilydale Express, September 20, 1907, see here.
(6) Lilydale Express, October 11, 1907, see here.
(7) Lilydale Express, July 10, 1908, see here.
(8) Lilydale Express, October 2, 1908, see here.
(9) The Argus, November 12, 1908, see here.
(10) Death notice of John Ward - The Argus, July 29, 1927, see here; Obituary of Alfred Carleton - The Age, February 21, 1936, see here.
(11) Lilydale Express, April 30, 1909, see here.
(12) Thomas Henry Gwillam, died 1930 - See various articles in my Trove list, here.
(13) The Age, May 19, 1909, see here.
(14) Healesville Guardian, June 4 1909, see here.
(17) Lilydale Express, April 20, 1906, see here.
(18) See various articles in my Trove list, here.
(19) The Age, May 12, 1911, see here
(20) Gray Denison Edmeston, the son of Harold and Elizabeth Edmeston. Harold was, as noted in the Electoral Rolls, a Musician and sometimes listed as a Professor of Music. In the early 1920s they operated a guesthouse, The Marlborough, Fernshaw Road, Healesville. Gray married Carol Segerberg in 1935 and he died at the age of 87 in August 1996
The Age, August 28, 1996, p. 44. newspapers.com
(21) McGivern, Muriel A History of Croydon (Victor Publishing, 1967), p. 204. Also Cinema Record, Issue 24, June 1999 https://www.cinemarecord.org.au/read/cr24/files/basic-html/page9.html
(22) Lilydale Express, February 4, 1910, see here.
(23) Lilydale Express, December 1, 1944, see here.
(24) McGivern, op. cit., p. 210.
(26) McGivern, op. cit., pp. 201-202.
(27) Fern Tree Gully News, December 15, 1933, see here.
(28) Streamlined Moderne description comes from https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/index.php/places/184815/download-report . Arthur Pretty - https://www.builtheritage.com.au/dua_pretty.html
(29) See various articles in my Trove list, here
(30) Lilydale Express, December 4, 1936, see here.
(31) Ibid
(32) Lilydale Express, December 18, 1936, see here.
(33) Lilydale Express, May 14, 1937, see here.
(34) Sun News-Pictorial, September 11, 1937, see here.
(35) McGivern, op. cit., p. 204.
(36) McGivern, op. cit., p. 162.
(37) Croydon Film Society website https://www.croydonfilms.org.au/about/ Cinema Treasurers website https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/31890 - has links to interior photos.
(38) These were found in The Age on newspapers.com
(39) Music Victoria website https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/directory-item/evs-youth-centre/ The 1992 date comes from the first reference I could find in The Age on newspapers.com
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