ART UNIONS IN BALLAARAT - Ballarat Mechanics' Institute Library and Heritage Collections

The last half of the nineteenth century was a period that saw progress and optimism for the future of Ballarat.

There was gold to be found, and investment in mining shares raised much excitement among citizens.

Alongside finding that next gold nugget, speculating in other games of chance, such as winning top prize in an Art Union, was very popular.

To fill this need, Mr. William Bridges, owner of the Pantheon Cottage and Picture Gallery in Main Road commenced holding Art Unions.

1858 William Bridges conducted an art union with 5000 members purchasing tickets at ten shillings each.

First prize was Bridges World-Famed Cabinet Tapestry valued at five hundred pounds.

Second prize included two tapestries plus title to the building he had up for sale, ’Bridges Pantheon and Picture gallery’ in Main Road. Five other prizes completed the total rewards available to the lucky investors.

1861. William Bridges conducted more Art Unions at his new Pantheon Hotel. One was a Nelson Share ,500 tickets at one pound, prize value 550 pounds.

1869 The Ballaarat Mechanics Institute Fine Arts Exhibition of 1869 was an exhibition to celebrate the opening of the newly constructed portion of the BMI now fronting Sturt street, including the four floors, basement and lookout tower with the statue of Minerva on the roof. It was a grand affair, but the new building had to be paid for.

The Ballaarat Mechanic’s Institute decided to conduct a massive Art Union to pay for this new four story building fronting Sturt street. The committee, to a man, signed a personal promissory note to make good the outstanding debt should the Art Union fail.

With the dedicated effort by the BMI secretary, Mr. Batten, who personally visited country towns by train, and set up an office in Melbourne to sell tickets, the Art Union was a great success, and the committee was able to declare the Promissory note paid in full before the due date.

1875. William Bridges moved into the Academy of Music (now Her Majesty’s Theatre) and conducted Bridges Colonial Gallery of Arts, displaying an excellent collection of European artworks, including his own tapestries, available for outright purchase.