Footscray Mechanics' Institute Library

Footscray Mechanics' Institute Library Footscray Mechanics' Institute (since 1856). Our current building opened in 1913.

There's some movement at the station, so please get onto this page and show your support.Reopening this historic buildin...
31/08/2026

There's some movement at the station, so please get onto this page and show your support.
Reopening this historic building would be a wonderful step forward in Willi's story.


Not just a giant in Country Music, but introduced millions of kids to the joys of books, and the doors that opened to th...
27/08/2026

Not just a giant in Country Music, but introduced millions of kids to the joys of books, and the doors that opened to their better futures. Thanks Dolly :)

No library event this Friday due to influenza.
26/08/2026

No library event this Friday due to influenza.

This is us....Here for our members and visitors to join up 10-4 weekdays...if billiards, great books you won't find else...
19/08/2026

This is us....
Here for our members and visitors to join up 10-4 weekdays...if billiards, great books you won't find elsewhere or historical buildings are your jam..experience nostalgia of another age and a welcoming space.
You'll come back.
There's always been Pride in Footscray.📚☮️🖥⌨️😉

12/08/2026

Open today folks!

10/08/2026

LIBRARY CLOSED TODAY.
Apologies....illness

📚📚📚Throwback to 2015 for our more recent members.Your eyes do not deceive you- this was your loved library space during ...
09/08/2026

📚📚📚
Throwback to 2015 for our more recent members.
Your eyes do not deceive you- this was your loved library space during the entire floor replacement.
Start from the ground they said.......well, we worked our way up.

A HUGE job- but so totally worthwhile when we reflect......and compare with last week's photo.👍

Today the FMI was jumping!💪 Nev, Liz, Eric,Linda n Doug ,all committee,borrowing, digital scanning, returning books, mai...
06/08/2026

Today the FMI was jumping!💪 Nev, Liz, Eric,Linda n Doug ,all committee,borrowing, digital scanning, returning books, maintaining the building,planning and socialising. A group using the reading room, a new member discovered us, Roz and Nada valued members popping by and Cam kept busy as a 🦫. The place was a-buzz.
And a shout out to 'young' Doug for his over and above volunteer help at Friday's event.
Need your chairs packed away?
Doug's your man!🤩

BOOK REVIEW: "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" by DonovanI grew up in the late '70s and '80's so missed the golden era of the '60's ...
05/08/2026

BOOK REVIEW: "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan

I grew up in the late '70s and '80's so missed the golden era of the '60's when Donovan ruled. I first saw him playing live on "The Mike Walsh" show in 1982, and his charisma was still intact then. Intrigued I bought a double LP "The Best of Donovan" - only ever released here in Australia. My dad laughed when he heard the opening track "Atlantis", as he knew I was listening to punk and metal bands around this period. Undeterred I loved the double album, and in the decades since collected every album Donovan has released.

So reading Don's take on his early career from 1965-1969 in his own words was a most fascinating and interesting read. The guy was huge in the '60's, and unfortunately his message didn't translate well into the selfish '70's.

The book takes in his rambling summer in Cornwell, and his crucial meeting with Gypsy Dave. Within 6 months he has released his first album on Pye Records in 1965, only aged 18 years old. In context The Beatles are onto their third album, and Dylan is already 24 years old and recording his fifth album.

The press call him "The British Dylan", and sets up a Beatles-Stones style rivalry that Donovan avoids, but Dylan gets fully engrossed in.
By his second album "Sunshine Superman" Don has already moved on, and is recording 'flower power' type hippie and peace songs a full two years before the term is even coined.

The rest of the decade sees Donovan release superb albums, many of which are blocked from a British release, after he jumps ship from Pye (UK) to Epic (USA) under the management of Allen Klein. His profile in the USA is huge. He tours constantly and is friend to Dylan, Joan Baez, The Beatles, Mama Cass, Sonny & Cher, Jimi Hendrix, etc etc.

The book then becomes absorbed with his spiritual questing in his life, allied with his obsession with his future wife Linda Lawrence.
This leads him with The Beatles to an ashram in India studying under the Maharishi. Here Donovan shares his finger-picking style with The Beatles, which they use to great effect on their 1968 self-titled album aka "The White Album", Don's tunes end up on his 1968 album "the Hurdy Gurdy Man".

Full of hope and youthful optimism, the book mirrors the intensive, prolific and quality output Donovan was recording in the Sixties decade. His environmental messages should have been heeded, and not ridiculed, as 6 decades on the world now faces the existential threat of global warming and environmental vandalism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZX4iZGg0e8&list=RDUZX4iZGg0e8&start_radio=1

Rating: 5/5 (Don delivers the goods, and is openly honest about key people and events in his life, definitely recommended if you enjoy a good rock autobiography) Review by Cameron

Thanks to Chris, Vivien, Steve & Linda for last Friday's 'ASTOUNDING WORLDS' MRBW event. Big thanks to Doug, Nev & Liz, ...
05/08/2026

Thanks to Chris, Vivien, Steve & Linda for last Friday's 'ASTOUNDING WORLDS' MRBW event.

Big thanks to Doug, Nev & Liz, Neil & Robert from FMI Committee for their valuable assistance too.

Don't forget most of the sci-fi titles covered are available for loan from our Sci-Fi collection here at the FMI Library.

Here's a couple of pics from the event - thanks Liz!

Address

209 Nicholson Street
Melbourne, VIC
3011

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61396871935

Website

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