The foundation stone of the Robe Mechanics’ Institute, south-eastern South Australia, laid on 24 September 1868.

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 104 x 63 mm; no photographer’s imprint (but possibly attributable to the travelling Mt. Gambier-based photographer Ginnings); the print has lost some contrast, nevertheless all of the text in the inscription can be easily read (see below); verso blank.

From a carte de visite album belonging to William Savage (1817-1890) and later his son Henry Savage (1857, Robe, S.A. – 1931, Robe, S.A.).

William Savage and Caroline (Bolton) Savage (1820-1873) were married in London in 1839 and emigrated to South Australia from England in the mid 1850s with their two eldest sons, soon after the death of their infant daughter Ellen (1848-1854). Their third son Henry was born in Robe and appears to have lived there his entire life; he, along with both his parents, as well as his older brothers William junior (1842-1883) and Charles (1845-1928), is buried in the Robe Cemetery.

William Savage senior, a stonemason, was a pioneer settler in Robe and the township’s principal builder in the 1850s. “William Savage Cottage”, in Victoria Street, was built by him soon after his arrival, and still stands today, a heritage-listed building. One of the civic buildings in the town for which Savage was responsible was the Robe Institute, which had been established as a Mechanics’ Institute in 1862. In 1867 Messrs. Savage and Kerr won the tender to construct a bespoke building for the Institute, at a projected cost of £1066. Construction began on 1 October 1868, over a year later. A ceremony was held to mark the occasion; the foundation stone was laid by Mr. George Lord, described in the stone’s inscription as “the oldest inhabitant of Robe”.

Text of the inscription on the foundation stone:

ROBE INSTITUTE

Foundation Stone

laid 24th September 1862 by

GEORGE LORD

the oldest inhabitant of Robe

Contractors: Savage & Kerr

Committee

President T. D. Smeaton

Vice-President N. McLean

Treasurer R. E. Venn

Hon. Secretary H. D. Gell

C. Gell, F. E. Goldsmith, J. G. O’Keeffe, H. Stephens.

BY THE HELP OF MANY      FOR THE GOOD OF ALL