General News
30 May, 2025
Talbot Library welcomes funds
Talbot Library is one of 11 Mechanic’s Institutes throughout Victoria to receive a $9000 grant towards upgrades and providing local educational programs, thanks to the State Government.
To celebrate 186 years of operating across the state, various Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria will be supported with funding to upgrade their libraries and provide educational programs for their communities.
This funding will also allow the institutes to renovate their facilities, pursue historical projects, purchase books, software and equipment and digitise records.
Talbot Library, formerly known the local Mechanics Institute, is one of more than 500 mechanics’ institutes throughout Victoria that are still used for community groups, exhibitions, talks and events.
President of the Talbot Library Committee Roger Mann welcomed the funding after the group’s efforts to maintain the building.
“We’ve been trying to get money for that since COVID. We’ve raised a lot of money but grants have been the main thing,” he said.
Mr Mann said following its long and interesting history, the hall is still used for educational programs throughout the community.
“Originally it was the first court house in Talbot, but there were too many crooks around, so they had to build a bigger one. As far as I know, it was a mechanics institute when it changed over from being a court house. Even now, we are still a member of Mechanics Institutes Victoria,” he said.
“More recently, there’s been a number of uses, we have had art groups, programs with the local school, events that have come and gone.”
Mr Mann said the building has since then facilitated much loved STEAM programs with Talbot Primary School.
“We’ve worked with the local primary school staff and purchased SPIKE Lego products,” he said.
“It’s all science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, part of promoting problem solving, creativity, that sort of stuff. We’ve provided the project equipment they use.”
Mr Mann said the much needed funding will go towards continuing repairs throughout the historic building.
“There’s been a lot of money spent on redoing the brick work, redoing the plaster inside. We are going to use this money to do up the windows. What we have got left over will go to doing another project with the local primary school and even the kindergarten,” he said.
Mr Mann said he and the committee were highly appreciative of assistance from Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and minister for Local Government Nick Staikos in receiving the grant.
“Without them, we don’t get the money, they have been fantastic,” he said.
Other Mechanic’s Institute libraries throughout Victoria receiving funding include Ballarat, Bonnie Doon, Little River, Maldon, Stanley and Toora.