Burke & Wills 4: Mechanic's Institute - Burke and Wills Expedition (sitios de interés)
Descripción del sitio
When Dr David Wilkie of the Royal Society (then called the Philosophical Institute) came up with the notion of a Victorian Exploring Expedition in 1857, a committee of esteemed persons met regularly here at the Mechanic's Institute on Collins Street – today it's the Athenaeum. They weighed several options but settled on an ambitious push northward by land, with the aid of camels.In 1858, wealthy local merchant Ambrose Kyte anonymously offered £1,000 to finance a fresh expedition if another £2,000 could be raised through donations. The offer was seized upon and George Landells was sent to India to buy camels for the campaign.
Construction of this building was completed in 1842, when city council began meeting here. The Mechanic's Institute became the Athenaeum in 1873, at first serving primarily as a library but in '96 hosting Australia's first movie screening.