After several meetings of residents interested in the establishment of an Institute the foundation stone for this building was laid by the Governor Sir William Robinson on 10 September 1883.

The South Australian Register reported: "The ceremony on Monday attracted a large number of people, and as the weather was fine, and there was a liberal display of bunting on the building and some of the houses in the vicinity, Tynte-street presented a gay and animated appearance. The fife and drum band in connection with the Grote-street Model School were brought over by Mr. Clark, and marched at the head of the scholars of the North Adelaide Model School from the Tynte-street School to the Institute site, where they were ranged in front of the building." http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43478097

The building was opened in April the following year with a large crowd filling the hall of the building. There was a library and assembly room on the ground floor, and a reading room and committee rooms on the first floor. The Post and Telegraph Office opened in November of 1884.