Wilcannia Athenaeum

The original committee for the Athenaeum included Edward Bulwer Lytton ("Plorn") Dickens, the youngest son of Charles Dickens and Frederic Trollope, son of Anthony Trollope, who was responsible for ordering books for the town library.^[4] Walterus Brown, the editor of the short lived Wilcannia Times newspaper, published from 1874-1888, was a great supporter of the Athenaeum.^[1][5]

• 1882 - construction of the building was widely advertised with plans available in multiple locations and cities^[6][7]
• 1883 - Wilcannia Town Council was incorporated as a municipality in 1883 and in 1959 became the Central Darling Shire, council meetings were held in the Athenaeum building until 1972.^[8]
• 1896 - As well as the municipal council occupying space in the building it also operated the free public library, however a dispute arose between the Trustees and the council over the rent and the cost of operating the public library, with the council threatening to move to alternative premises^[9]
• 1898 - the librarians salary was reduced in an attempt to contain costs due to falling subscription revenue^[10]
• 1899 - the Athenaeum continued to struggle financially^[11][12]
• 1937 - the Council of the Municipality of Wilcannia was appointed the sole trustee of the land where the Anthenaeum stands.^[13]

In more recent times, the Athenaeum was the location for the Wilcannia Telecentre and currently operates as the Wilcannia Athenaeum Pioneer Museum.

31°33′31″S 143°22′45″E / 31.55858°S 143.37924°E / -31.55858; 143.37924