The Sebastopol Mechanics institute was opened on Thursday, April 28, 1864 at 7.00 o'clock in the evening. Dr Charles Kenworthy occupied the chair.

On the platform were seated the Rev Messrs Fraser, Waugh, Walker, Halley and Farr. Also Mr Thomas Lang, President of the Ballarat Mechanics Institute.

Entertainment was provided by the Welsh Choir, Mr David Lloyd, conductor and Mr and Mrs Little. Mrs Little presided at the harmonium.

The evening's proceedings were commenced by the choir singing "God Bless the Prince of Wales".

The land on which the building is erected has been applied for on behalf of the committee by Dr Kenworthy, to whose strenuous exertions the success of the movement is mainly to be attributed; while the Mexican Gold Mining Co, on whose claim the ground is situated has kindly consented to its alienation.

The building is of brick and two stories high, and its erection was considered some six months previous.

The cost was £530, of which £400 had already been subscribed.

The building was already required by the ODD Fellows Society - The Masonic Lodge, the Local Temperance Society, the Primitive Methodist Church for Sunday morning services and the Congregationalists on the Sunday afternoons.

The size of the building was added to considerably over the next thirty (30) years as shown on the statistics 1867 - 94.