PMI Victorian History Library

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PMI Victorian History Library Community-owned PMI Victorian History Library is your gateway to Victoria’s rich history. Explore 70,000+ items, unique stories, and inclusive events. Connect with a community passionate about preserving and sharing Victoria’s past

The PMI Victorian History Library Inc. is a subscription library established (originally in Chapel Street) in Prahran, Victoria, Australia in 1854 with subscriptions and donations of the local community. It provided a community centre, meeting place and library before the establishment of the local municipality.

The PMI is one of the oldest surviving Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria and one ofonly six still operating a lending library. It is the only mechanics' institute in Victoria that was governed by its own Act of Parliament, which was enacted in 1899. This Act of Parliament was repealed in 2024, this was done to assist the library in staying relevant to its members in future.

In 1908 the Prahran Mechanics' Institute established the Prahran Technical School which operated on the High Street site from 1915 until 1971. In 2004 the High Street building was included in the Victorian Heritage Register for its architectural and cultural significance.

From 1990 Swinburne University of Technology partially occupied the buildings under the auspices of a lease granted to the Victorian Minister for Education in 1947 for the accommodation of the Prahran Technical School. The lease was for a shilling per year for a term of 99 years. In 2009, needing income and space for the library, the PMI sold the High Street building to the university. The PMI then purchased a building in nearby St Edmonds Road, Prahran and will relocate in 2014.

Since 1980 the library collection at PMI Victorian History Library Inc. has specialised in the history of Victoria and, as the only lending collection of its kind in Australia, is a valuable resource for researchers.

In the long tradition of mechanics' institutes around the world, PMI Victorian History Library Inc. runs a programme of educational activities including free public lectures.

Are you a nonfiction reader? What do you think makes a good Australian memoir? In belated celebration of We Love Memoirs...
17/10/2026

Are you a nonfiction reader? What do you think makes a good Australian memoir?

In belated celebration of We Love Memoirs Day on 31 August, we at the PMI Library are continuing our search for the Top 100 Australian Books of All Time for ’s countdown (the countdown airs Oct 17-18!) by highlighting memoirs old and new. Here are ten Australian memoirs from our own collection that we believe are worthy of consideration.

🔗 Blog post link in bio

Your - good luck
16/10/2026

Your - good luck

Books, bargains and a proper treasure hunt. Join us for the PMI Library x ACRA Book Sale and Market Day in November.Disc...
15/10/2026

Books, bargains and a proper treasure hunt.

Join us for the PMI Library x ACRA Book Sale and Market Day in November.

Discover second-hand treasures from our amazing local sellers and makers, unexpected finds and the occasional rare book that makes you stop mid-browse. Whether you love Victorian history, local stories or beautiful old editions, there’s plenty to explore. And every book purchase you make supports us, the PMI Victorian History Library, a community-run library dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Victoria.

Bring a friend, a tote bag and leave with a story to tell.

📍 PMI Victorian History Library, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran
📅 Sat 14 Nov | 🕡 9am - 2pm



Official Ashburton Community Residents Association Inc

14/10/2026

It's World Spinning Top Day so Clementine has been researching in some of our toy history books for the best way to turn Luna into a spinning top- the results have had limited success so far

For our second post, we wanted to give a shout out to one of our main suppliers of new books Bookstore. You can see h...
10/10/2026

For our second post, we wanted to give a shout out to one of our main suppliers of new books Bookstore. You can see here, just a portion of the wonderful selection of books we've recently acquired when our Collections Librarian returned from long service leave.

It's and today we're celebrating our own second hand book shop 😁The Friends of the PMI Library do an incredible job m...
09/10/2026

It's and today we're celebrating our own second hand book shop 😁The Friends of the PMI Library do an incredible job managing all our second hand books on Australian history. Did you know we have nearly 1000 books just on Victorian towns alone? The book shop is open Tuesdays, Fridays and the first Saturday of every month and you can browse and buy many of the books on our online bookshop too!

Though for the $1 treasures, you'll need to come in in person...

Online bookshop 🔗in bio

Your - good luck!
09/10/2026

Your - good luck!

State elections are coming up in November, and you know what that means…. ephemera! We are asking you to save all those ...
08/10/2026

State elections are coming up in November, and you know what that means…. ephemera!

We are asking you to save all those flyers and posters that will be given to you over the next few weeks. We know many throw them out as soon as we get them, but to us, they are an important part of Victoria’s social history. So instead of looking for a bin, save them for the PMI Victorian History Library instead 🧡

📍39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181

What if your local library could help you find your story in Victoria’s history?The PMI Victorian History Library has be...
07/10/2026

What if your local library could help you find your story in Victoria’s history?

The PMI Victorian History Library has been collecting Victoria’s stories for more than 170 years. Books, maps, zines, posters, podcasts, photographs, local publications and ephemera all have a place in the collection. Together, we help tell the stories of all of Victorian communities, including the voices and experiences often left out of the official record.

We are a place where members, researchers, volunteers, history lovers and curious locals come together. A place where staff and volunteers remember what you’re researching, help you find something unexpected, or simply make you feel at home.

ALIA’s INCITE magazine recently featured us, the PMI Victorian History Library and explored our collection, events and the community that is at the heart of everything we do.

Click the link to enjoy the article: https://incite.alia.org.au/profile-of-the-pmi-victorian-history-library/

Clementine has been doing research for who she thinks should be nominated for ABC's Insect of the Year. She started by t...
07/10/2026

Clementine has been doing research for who she thinks should be nominated for ABC's Insect of the Year. She started by trying to inspect our staff, we suggested that the books might be a more useful research point....

Address

39 St Edmonds Road
Melbourne, VIC
3181

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+61395103393

Website

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