In 1994, the Australian Country Music Foundation was provided with use of Tamworth's historic former Mechanics' Institute by Tamworth City (now Regional) Council.
The Foundation has established its administrative headquarters in this building as well as its current exhibitions. The building is open to the public every Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm, Saturdays between 10am and 1pm (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) and for special extended hours during the annual country music festivals in January and July and other special events during the year
A quick guide to the building...
Entry Foyer
This is where we display a range of merchandise relevant to our exhibitions as well as an extensive range of music by our Roll of Renown pioneers and many of Australia's independent country music artists.
The Main Hall
The largest room in the building is dedicated to the Legends of Australian Country Music exhibition, currently featuring a number of displays on artists elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown... Tex Morton, Buddy Williams, Smoky Dawson, Slim Dusty, Stan Coster, Barry Thornton, Arthur Blanch, Johnny Ashcroft, Reg Lindsay and Shorty Ranger. The Legends exhibition forms the basis for the beginning of Australia's country music hall of fame. Ultimately, this exhibition will include special displays on all those elevated to the Roll of Renown, together with many others who have featured prominently in Australian country music over the years.
Smoky Dawson Room
When the Foundation was getting under way, country music pioneer Smoky Dawson was approached to be patron of the organisation, an invitation he accepted with gusto. Smoky continues to support the ACMF and in 1997, the Smoky Dawson Room was dedicated. It currently houses...
25 Years And On
A special photographic exhibition established to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Country Music Awards (also including acknowledgement of Awards up to the present). This exhibition is based on one special photograph from each Awards year together with a list of winners and some special Awards highlights (for example the story of the Golden Guitar).
Channel 10 Theatrette
Also in the Smoky Dawson Room, we've set up a special theatrette with the support of major sponsor Channel 10. The Theatrette is established so visitors can view some of Australia's unique country music history. Current highlights include an excerpt from the film Who Chased The Chicken starring Buddy Williams, a documentary on the life of Smoky Dawson, and the television special Slim Dusty, This Is Your Life.
The Tamworth festival video, The Legends Live On, also screens regularly.
A number of other videos and DVDs are available for viewing with more being added as they become available.
Archives and Administration
Remaining rooms in the building are dedicated for use as archiving, administration and meeting rooms.
About the building
In 1859, Dr RL Jenkins, the local member of parliament, had the land at 93 Brisbane Street, Tamworth, set aside for the building of a mechanics' institute, with the government providing a grant of £150 towards the cost.
In 1863, a subscription list was opened in the town and £230 was raised as funding towards the proposed building.
On August 11, 1864, surveyor Arthur Dewhurst recorded in his diary that he was "making design for a MECHANICS' INSTITUTE".
The building constructed by builder William S Dowel over the next two years at the total cost of £380 was officially opened on May 24, 1866. The Tamworth Mechanics' Institute then consisted of a hall only and was used as the first Town Hall in Tamworth. It would have been one of Tamworth's highest and most imposing buildings at the time.
On August 7, 1897, work began on the building of a reading room, the hexagonal room on the western side of the building. Lewis Levy (of Tamworth's Cohen & Levy store) donated £50 for this construction and his partner Abraham Cohen donated £150.
In 1900, the "new committee room" (the back part of the building) was a further extension.
In 1936, 50 years after it was built, the building was re-named The School Of Arts, and during World War II (1939-45), it was used by the Army to provide entertainment and refreshment to troops stationed at Tamworth.
In 1947, the School of Arts became inoperable. Tamworth City Council took over the building, carried out extensive renovation work and established Tamworth's first library and art gallery.
In 1961, the building was leased to the University of New England which established an adult education centre trust for the building and surrounding land. The UNE refurbished the building at a cost of £11,000 and occupied it for the next 30 years, renaming it the Campbell Howard Centre for Continuing Education in the mid '80s after Campbell Howard, a former Regional Director of Education.
By 1992, the building had reached a state of disrepair. The UNE vacated and Tamworth City Council commenced a staged refurbishment programme on August 17. Stage one was completed by builders Nelson & Auld, stages two and three by Tamworth City Council staff.
A total of $350,000, including actual building costs, materials and Council staff labour charges was spent. The Heritage Assistance Programme and NSW Ministry for the Arts contributed grants of $35,000 and $25,000 respectively.
The building was officially re-opened by Tamworth Mayor Alderman David John, January 28, 1994, and dedicated as the Australian Country Music Foundation... a fitting use of this historic building considering Tamworth's national and international reputation as Australia's Country Music Capital.
The Foundation is open every Monday to Saturday between 10am and 2pm (and often on Sundays) with several exhibitions including The Legends of Australian Country Music which is developing as Australia's own country music hall of fame.
Our building celebrated its 140th birthday on May 24 2006 !!
