[3] The Toodyay Young Men's Reading Club was founded on 30 August 1871[4] and operated from the government schoolroom into the early 1870s.

[5] On 3 September 1873 a "tea-meeting" (replete with singing and comestibles) was held to discuss the merging of the Mechanics' Institute and the Toodyay Young Men's Reading Club, with a view to the construction of a new building for the resultant organisation.

[7] In that year a new piano, costing about £90, was purchased from Messrs. Brinsmead & Company of Perth and £12 worth of books were added to the library.

An annual subscription fee of 12 shillings for membership of the Mechanics Institute partially funded the purchase of newspapers and books, heating, stationery and the wages of the secretary and librarian.

[15] During the years 1895 and 1896 there was a push by the local community for state government assistance in enlarging the mainly privately funded Mechanics' Institute building, with a view to providing an appropriate site for Municipal Council Chambers.

[citation needed] In July another new hall was opened in the main street, constructed by the local lodge of the Order of Oddfellows.

[19][b] In December 1897 the Newcastle Municipal Council received notification from the secretary of the Mechanics' Institute that rental of their hall had increased from £1 per annum to £5.

[27] In 1907 the Newcastle Mechanics’ Institute was revived when a government concession enabled the purchase of new books for the library and Jane Hasell, aged 32 years, was appointed caretaker and librarian.

[30] On 24 February 1910 Sir John Forrest (then Federal Treasurer) visited Newcastle as part of his election campaign and addressed a meeting at the Institute.

In 1919 members of the community, led by John Masterson, once again attempted to rally support for the Institute through membership drives and fundraising events to pay off debts and provide better amenities.

At a public meeting on 21 November 1921 it was proposed that the Institute be closed and its assets sold, with funds – after the discharge of outstanding liabilities – going towards the local hospital.

[39] In the meantime the building continued to be used for a variety of purposes such as fundraising bazaars for St John the Baptist Church in 1922,[40] 1923,[41] 1925[42] and 1926.

[47] In November 1926 the Water Supply Department requested from the Board payment of arrears due on the Mechanics' Institute account amounting to £3/12/-.