25/10/2026
As October is History Month in Victoria, the Melbourne Athenaeum is celebrating by taking a dive into the archives. As the institution is in its 187th year of operation it has borne witness to and hosted many significant occasions and events.
Did you know one of these was the first demonstration of electricity in Melbourne?
In 1882, the Australian Electricity Company (AEC) showcased incandescent electric lamps in the Athenaeum’s large hall. Power was supplied from the company’s generating plant located in Russell Street. The demonstration showed how electricity could be used in a domestic setting through the exhibition of fully furnished rooms including a drawing room and dining room. The electric light was displayed for 15 minutes every hour. The demonstration was a great success with 2000 people attending the event on the closing day.
A year later, the Melbourne Athenaeum entered into an agreement with the AEC to light the library’s two reading rooms. This would have enhanced the comfort of the library for patrons by reducing the heat given off by the gas lamps as well as reducing the risk of damage to the books.
Edison Electric Light Metal Sign, 1882, Melbourne Athenaeum Archives.
