TMTheMelbourneAthenaeum

=**The Melbourne Athenaeum**= ====The word ‘athenaeum’ originates from the Greek word ‘Athenaion’, denoting the temple of the goddess Athena. Today ‘athenaeum’ is used in the names of libraries or institutes for literary or scientific study. The Melbourne Athenaeum has been used for both, as you will find in our ‘history’ section. In fact, Athenaeum not only originates from a Greek word, but its architecture is heavily influenced by that of the ancient Greeks.====

//History//
The Melbourne Athenaeum is located at 188 Collins st. One of the oldest public institutions in Victoria, it was founded in 1839 and originally called the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institute. This was later changed to Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution and School of Arts. The original intention of the founders, the Union Benefit Society, was to provide support for their members. They did this through building and running what is now known as the Athenaeum.

The institution changed its name to the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1873. It quickly evolved from a mechanics’ institute to include a library, small museum, art gallery and a dancing hall and became a popular venue for screening films. The library was one of the most popular facilities of the Athenaeum and still continues to exist as a large subscription library to this day.

The theatre in its present form was established in 1921. It was the first theatre in Australia to screen talking pictures. In October, 1896, the first movie to screen in Australia opened in Athenaeum Hall. By 1906 the Athenaeum was a regular venue for screening films and premiers. The premiere of the Tait brothers film The Story of the Kelly Gang occurred then. The first ‘talkie’ (film with sound), The Jazz Singer, showed there in 1929.

In 1970 there was an interlude of live dramas for almost six months, however the theatre did not return to that until the Melbourne Theatre Company took over in 1977. The company produced classics while in ownership of the Athenaeum. They then modified the small hall at the front of the building into a studio, Athenaeum Theatre. In 1984, when the Melbourne Theatre Company relocated to the Victorian Arts Centre, Athenaeum 1 continued as a live theatre, beginning a new era.

The theatre has seen the likes of Dame Nellie Melba, Barry Humphrey, Sir Lawrence Olivier and many more. This is illustrated in ‘The Melbourne Athenaeum in Pictures’, a new exhibit consisting of photographs and memorabilia to capture and celebrate the history of the Athenaeum. Its longest-running show was ‘Wogs Out of Work’.

The whole building is heritage listed and is on the Register of Historic Buildings.

//Architecture//
During the history of the Athenaeum, the building has undergone many renovations and additions. When first built, the Athenaeum was a two-storey rendered brick structure behind a cast iron fence and with a Doric porticoed entrance. The building was heavy influenced by Greek architecture, with decorative Greek urns, plaques depicting Greek figures and Doric architecture.

By 1857, two single-storey wings had been added to the façade on either side of the entrance. In 1872, architect Alfred Smith designed a new hall in the re-named Melbourne Athenaeum. It was now approximately 30x50m with a raised platform extending across the northern end. Eight hundred people could be seated in the hall and 150 in the balcony, which was supported on elegant light iron columns.

The next construction occurred in the mid 1880’s when the front of the buildings that now stand was constructed. In 1886 the “new” buildings opened. The architects for this work were Smith & Johnston. In 1910 the upper hall was converted into an art gallery. In 1930 the main library was renovated.

The overall work was finally completed in 1924, when Henry E. White completed the alterations to produce a Bijou-style drama theatre with a fly-tower, stage, stalls and gallery. White used his current Adam style of decoration, but in a more austere manner than in his larger theatres.

The building now exists as a three-storey stuccoed brick structure. Giant Corinthian pilasters divide the main façade into three bays. The central bay rises through the parapet to finish as a niche containing a statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and equivalent to the Greek Athena, a temple of which is the origin of the word ‘Athenaeum’. How’s that for a little trivia!

The Melbourne Athenaeum is architecturally significant as a singularly late example of the Renaissance Revival style. The style was considered appropriate for an institution with a particular emphasis on learning.

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