In the early years of Maitland, cultural events were held in the assembly rooms of the two hotels. As the town grew, these rooms were no longer able to meet the needs of the townspeople, and so in 1872 a plan was hatched to build an Institute, a place where locals could come together to pursue intellectual and cultural interests. A Board of Trustees was appointed, and Samuel Rogers offered a half acre site in Robert Street which was accepted by the Board. Money was raised via a subscription list, the staging of concerts, and through government grants. The foundation stone was laid in January of 1882, and the hall completion celebrated in October of the same year.

Whilst there was praise for the building's interior, its fa ade was not met with such enthusiasm. One visiting parliamentarian remarked that appreciation of the building could be likened to, 'how a man might estimate his wife or sweetheart - externally unattractive but internally beautiful.' A new fa ade was commissioned and opened in January 1884.

Over the years the Institute was home to a circulating library, concerts, lectures, plays, and even a roller skating rink. After Maitland's town hall was damaged in 1953, the Institute was remodelled to take over some of its functions, incorporating a ballroom, auditorium and meeting rooms. A further remodelling in 1999 expanded some of the spaces and added an industrial kitchen.

Heinrich, Rhoda. Governor Fergusson's legacy : a history of the early days of the Maitland-Kilkerran districts, Adelaide : [Maitland-Kilkerran Centenary Committee], 1972

Maitland-Kilkerran Centenary Committee. Maitland-Kilkerran centenary, 1872-1972, Maitland, S.A., 1972

Souvenir of Yorke's Peninsula : history, progress and resources, W.K. Thomas & Co., 1926.

Yorke Peninsula heritage, [Maitland?, S. Aust. : s.n., 1986]

Maitland - SA Tourism website