Mittagong History Institutions
The history of Mittagong Institutions.
On the 25th January 1886 a meeting was held where it was decided to establish a School Of Arts, which was opened on the 9th February. In the first year 79 members joined and a debating club was formed. The library was situated in a cottage behind the Canterbury Hall. Some years later AW Tooth bought land on the corner of Bowral Rd and Main St for 320 pounds and gave it to the School Of Arts for a building to be built on it. A tender for the school was accepted in November 1898, which was accepted and completed the following year. On the 30th of April 1954 the institution closed with the library section moving to a temporary building on the 15th May 1954 pending the completion of the shire building. The library is still in operation.
On the 22nd of June 1930 the Sydney City Mission opened a home on the Gib to be used for ill-nourished children. On the 8th of November 1930 a new building for the institution was opened and cost 2250 pounds with a new wing being dedicated on the 3rd of July 1937.