Nillumbik Literary Institute and Free Library on its new site in 1879, taken soon after it was relocated
from opposite the cemetery. Mr. Bill, headmaster of the State School from 1870 to 1892, has a cockatoo
on his arm and his wife stands beside him. The seated lady is believed to be Mrs. Pepper.

The building that housed the Nillumbik Literary Institute and Free Library was first built as a Mechanics Institute on a site opposite the Nillumbik Cemetery. It was one of many such places built in small country towns across Victoria from the 1850’s in an attempt to foster local interest in education.

The opening of the recently completed building as the Diamond Creek Literary Institute was celebrated with a tea-meeting and concert on Tuesday, September 1st, 1868. The Argus describes the event – The night being bright with moonlight, the younger visitors amused themselves outside the building with “kiss-in-the-ring” and other rustic games, while the elder and more serious portion adjourned to the hall to listen to the addresses, recitations, and songs, all of which went off in a very creditable manner.

In addition to its main function as a library, from 1872 to 1874, the building was used as an extra classroom to accommodate the large influx of children from mining families.

In 1879 the building was moved to its new and permanent location on the hill opposite St John’s Church of England where it continued to be an important place for the community. It came where locals met; initially as a lending library, and later to host fetes, balls, meetings, concerts, and to celebrate special occasions or socially playing cards and draughts.

The Nillumbik Literary Institute Hall decorated with bunting and lined with stalls for a fete in the 1890’s

With the building established in its final position, a new committee was appointed and from this report given by the president at its annual meeting on October 20th, 1880 and detailed in the Mercury and Weekly Courier it was an important time for the institute and library … it affords me much pleasure to congratulate you upon the increased and increasing interest which is being manifested in our institute by the people of the district. When your Committee first took office, they found that the affairs of the institute had been conducted in a most unsatisfactory manner; that the accounts had been kept in such an irregular way that upon being submitted to two auditors appointed by the Committee, those auditors were unable to certify to their correctness. Your Committee were therefore obliged to accept unconditionally the cash statement, by which it appeared that there was standing to the credit of the institute the sum of £23 17s. 10d. It was at once resolved to fence in the ground belonging to the institute, which you are already aware has been done at a cost of £16 18s. The building has also been re-painted at a further outlay of £4 10s., and an insurance has been effected on the building for £150, at the yearly premium of £1 10s. It having come to the knowledge of your Committee that several valuable volumes had been purloined from the library by some unprincipled persons, it was resolved that a new book-case should be obtained, which has been done, and a safe repository for the library now adorns the room at an outlay of £4 10s. Library.—This is still in an unsatisfactory condition, many of the best books having been stolen. The want of sufficient funds has sorely crippled your Committee, and prevented them from providing such a liberal selection of books as they have desired and the interests of the institute have demanded. They have, however, been able to add between forty and fifty new volumes during the year, and they confidently expect in a short time to be in a position to make further additions of useful instructive, and readable books, such as I trust will meet with the approbation of the members, who, I am happy to say, are increasing in number very satisfactorily, there being at present on the books of the institute 46, as against 16 when your Committee took office, showing an increase of 30 new members during the year. Secretary.—I regret to have to inform you that owing to continued indisposition, the Secretary, Mr. Edmonds, found it necessary to resign his appointment, which resignation was received by your Committee with regret, … Your Committee thereupon appointed Master Frank W. Powell, pupil teacher at the State School, to the combined office of Secretary and Librarian. … Your Committee have had under their consideration the advisability of forming classes for Mutual Improvement &c., but have not as yet been able to mature their scheme sufficiently to lay it before the members. I sincerely trust the matter will not be lost sight of … The Institute is a most valuable acquisition to our scattered population, and by judicious working, may be made not only an invaluable educator to our young Victorians, but be the means of diffusing happiness and joy throughout the homes of the district.

The Nillumbik Literary Institute and Free Library after the supper room was added to the rear of the building in 1882, showing members of the Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge. The Lodge of the M.U.I.O.O.P.* met at the hotel on the diagonally opposite side of the junction of Main and Collins Streets, hence the pub’s name the Loyal Diamond Lodge Hotel. (*Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows)

The work of the committee continued and in 1882 plans were drawn up to add a supper room. It would allow the institute more scope to host a variety of events in the coming years, no doubt to help increase funds to support the library. Over the next two years their plans went through processes required by the Shire of Heidelberg and the Central Board of Health. Finally, in August 1884 the first ball to be held in the building was advertised by the Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge. However, this is interesting as at that time government grants for free libraries in aid of their building funds stipulated they were to be dancing rooms. It isn’t clear if this affected the institute, but balls and dances were held in subsequent years without objection.

Following the ball, Mr. Peers, a member of the committee wrote to Council complaining about their authorisation of dancing at the Nillumbik Literary Institute without the consent of the trustees. It was decided that in face of this objection, Council could not grant another permit. The Lodge had been granted permission to hold a ball in the building in 1879 before it was moved, so it may be that they didn’t think twice about any objection to this later on.

The appetite of locals to use the hall for all sorts of purposes continued, showing interests the people shared. The financial support would also help the library and institute. A meeting of the committee in December 1884 resolved that the room be let for recreation purposes for 7s 6d for half-night, and 10s for whole night. – Rev. J. B. Gason asked for regular tea-meetings and paid 5s each time. Mr. Bill (headmaster of the state school) was granted the hall free one evening each week for the glee club, and the Nillumbik Horticultural Society applied to hold a show in the hall. The committee was asked to set up tables for the event, which was done, and the hall and grounds was offered for the day at a charge of 10s. The Nillumbik Minstrel Club, who used the hall for practice asked for a reduction in price and to encourage them the committee agreed to 1s per night while practicing. And events such as the Diamond Creek Athletic Sports were often followed in the evening by a ball.

On Thursday, March 5th, 1885, the hall held a special event, the Diamond Creek Horticultural Society’s Exhibition. A report in the Evelyn Observer tells us it was the first of its kind ever held in the district. The weather was beautifully fine, and the attendance very large, even larger, we believe, than expected. The entries in each class were numerous … the Nillumbik Literary Institute, which was tastefully decorated and presented quite a gay appearance, proved a success beyond all anticipations, both in regards exhibits and the attendance. The show of fruit was splendid, especially apples.

Advertisements in the Evelyn Observer and South and East Bourke Record of October 1885, advised Nillumbik Literary Institute and Free Library 300 volumes in circulation. Reading Room open on Saturday evenings for exchange of book, &c. Subscription, 4s per annum, payable quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly. By December they were advertising 400 volumes.

In March 1887, the institute committee decided to build an ante-room and a sub-committee was formed to manage the project. A week later, the sub-committee, made up of Messrs. N. Ellis, G. Haley, T. Wadeson, W.J. Lawrey, J.W. Lawrey, W. Herbert and W. Wilson, reported that they had accepted a tender from Messrs. Drinkwater and Smith for erection of the building for the sum of £14 14s. with other necessaries to be provided by Mr. W.J. Lawrey.

In the mid-1890’s the institute was again being referred to as the Diamond Creek Literary Institute and in March 1897 they held a concert and ball. This report relates to challenges being met at that time, and gives us a window into how people enjoyed themselves and how in reality with different entertainment it could be in any decade since then. Towards the close of the past year the committee of the Diamond Creek Literary Institute undertook the painting and repairs to their building, and owing to the small amount of the Government grant awarded to the, they found themselves between £10 and £11 on the wrong side of the ledger. To effect a reduction of the incubus of debt, the committee organised an entertainment on Show Night, in the form of a concert and dance. Show Day* turned out fine, though the earlier part of the week did not augur well. To add to the committee’s troubles, owing to illness and unforseen business calls, many of the performers who had promised to assist were unable to do so, and the committee were forced to seek other aid at almost the last moment. However, the committee had a full house, and their efforts were crowned with success, both financially and socially. The chairman (E. H. Cameron, Esq., M.L.A.) opened the proceeding with a few words about the objects of the concert, &c. the first part consisted of songs and recitations, &c.; the second of the sketch entitles, “The Happy Pair,” acted by Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, both of whom had spent many years on the stage, Mrs. Maitland under the name of Miss Ruth Wallace … The piece was interspersed with songs, some of which contained local hits. The audience seemed to be completely captured by the excellent acting and rendition of the language, and were loud in their expressions of the pleasure which that part of the entertainment in particular had afforded them … The following was the programme:—Overture, “Honeymoon March,” Mr. J. P. Knowles, song, “Kathleen Mavourneen,” Miss Williams, recitation, “The man from Ironbark,” Mr. L. Taylor, Irish jig, Miss Smith, song, “Ben Bolt\,” Mrs. Guest, song, “Little Gypsy Jane,” Mrs. Hooper, song, “Down by the riverside,” Miss Poulter, song, “Molly Brown,” Miss Smith, recitation, “Salt Bush Bill,” Mr. L. Taylor, song, “The Irish Emigrant,” Mrs. Hooper. Piece: A domestic sketch entitled, “The Happy Pair”, the husband, Mr. Maitland, the wife, Mrs. Maitland (Miss Ruth Wallace). At the conclusion of the concert a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the performers. … After the concert was over a ball was held, at which there was a crowded attendance. Refreshments were liberally provided, without cost to the funds, owing to the generosity of some of the residents, especially the ladies. The music, which was provided by Mr. J. P. Knowles, of North Carlton, was excellent, and so well did the devotees of the Terpischore** enjoy themselves that the majority did not depart until 5 a.m.

Various names were used over the hall’s long life: Mechanics Institute, Lending Library, Literary Institute and Free Library. Nillumbik and Diamond Creek were interchangeable in referring to the township. From the early 1900’s the building was increasingly referred to as the Diamond Creek Hall or the Public Hall and a Diamond Creek Library Institute and Free Library Committee continued to manage the building into the 1940’s. The continuing history of the Diamond Creek Public Hall and the Literary Institute and Free Library up to the 1960’s will be covered in a future article.

* Show Day – the Horticultural Society’s Show was often a local holiday
** Terpischore – dancing and choral song, or the art of dancing.