In September 1878 a public meeting in Rennison’s Hotel elected trustees to gain a government grant of land to erect a Mechanics’ Institute at Mordialloc. Once the building was completed some significant community meetings took place there. The Premier of the State, Thomas Bent, spoke to a crowd of about 100 about including religious education in public schools in 1904 and twenty year later the Mordialloc and Carrum District High School commenced there. In 1963 the Institute’s building was demolished to be replaced by a new court house and the Allan McLean Hall.