Stanley Athenaeum & Public Room
Stanley is a small rural community situated 9 kms from Beechworth in northeast Victoria it is famous for its bracing high altitude cool climate and growing apples, chestnuts and berries.
The Stanley Public Room was built by public subscription in 1856 and opened in 1857 at the height of the gold rush at the Nine Mile (now known as Stanley). The Athenaeum was formed when a meeting at the Public Room in 1863 elected a committee of ten men to establish a library and a librarian was appointed.
When the original wooden building was destroyed by fire in the late 1860's or early 1870's the present brick building was built to replace it on the same site, opening in 1874. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century the Stanley Athenaeum has been a lending library and has had a vital role as the centre of many Stanley community events. It has always been a meeting place for small social functions, fundraising events, exhibitions and public meetings.
The building and its collection are managed by the Stanley Hall and Athenaeum Committee a Committee of management of Indigo Shire Council..
Open by appointment for research
Wheelchair accessible
Public toilets are at rear of building
food and refresments are available at the Post Office (Mon- Fri) and Stanley Pub (Wed- Sun)
Public Transport: V Line service to Beechworth , then taxi service for 9 kms to Stanley
Book Collection
Over 3,000 volumes of fiction and nonfiction published between 1820 and 1960, including reference, biography, government, history, philosophy, poetry, politics, science and natural history and travel.
The collection includes:
Nineteenth century books published in Australia by local authors such as William Guilfoyle, landscape gardener, botanist and Melbourne Botanic Gardens Director, William Guilfoyle (1843-1912) 'Domestic Floriculture' and 'Australian Botany Specially Designed for Use in Schools' (1878), Medicus and the Shroff and Bishop James Moorhouse (1826-1915) are also included
Science books published in the 1800s including: Charles Darwin 'On the Origin of Species' (1861) and 'Expression of Emotions in Man' (1872), Huxley's essays (1863), Alexander von Humboldt 'Cosmos: A Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe' I-VI (1849 -1871) and other works.
A representative collection of world and Australian fiction from the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century’s, including runs of titles by Australian authors including: Ada Cambridge ((1844-1926), seven volumes from 1892 -1901, Ethel Turner (1872-1958), Alan Marshall (1902-1984). Hon Professor Wallace Kirsop says 'copies of three decker novels of the same decades are very likely unique now in this country and consequently of great interest to students of the Victorian Age and of its literature'.
Geoff Craig Local History Collection
Stanley history written and published by local historian Geoff Craig (about 25 volumes) most of these are now out of print and Stanley Athenaeum holds copyright for many of these books. Also a collection of local, institution and thematic histories, many of these are now out of print.
Athenaeum Object and Archive Collection
Minute books, Athenaeum book stamps, clock, backgammon set, euchre objects (tickets, ticket punches), hand bell, keys, gavel, safe
Archive Collection
Borrowing cards for Athenaeum
Records of Stanley organisations and groups including minute books, financial records and documents for the Athenaeum and Hall committees, Country Women's Association, Stanley New Years Day Sports, Recreation Reserve
Furniture and Fittings
Original shelving, wooden tables, chairs, fireplace screen, settle, fire tools, heaters, lamps, lights and a safe
Object Collection
Geological collection from the local area and other places in Australia
Illuminated addresses, honour boards - Independent Order of Rechabites, Hurdle Flat School
Framed Pictures - Queen Victoria, the Lord's Prayer, Great War 1914-18 Genealogical Record, Beechworth and District
Cups, shields and trophies - football, choral, table tennis, cricket
Photograph Collection
Photographs of town and district, people, buildings, school, cultural sporting groups and other local groups