Alexander Library Building

Alexander Library Building
Front entrance of Alexander Library Building
General information
Status Complete
Type Library
Location Between James Street Mall and Francis Street Perth
Address 25 Francis Street, Perth
Town or city Perth
Country Australia
Coordinates 31°56′56″S 115°51′38″E / 31.948822°S 115.860565°E / -31.948822; 115.860565
Current tenants State Library of Western Australia
State Records Office
Construction started 1982
Completed 1985
Opened 18 June 1985
Cost A$37.6 million
Landlord Government of Western Australia
Design and construction
Architecture firm Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol
Structural engineer Norman, Disney and Young

The Alexander Library Building, is located in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia.

It was named after Western Australian historian and former member of the Library Board, Fred Alexander.[1]

It houses the State Library of Western Australia, the J S Battye Library,[2] and the State Records Office, in the Perth Cultural Precinct in Northbridge in Perth, Western Australia.

The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts. It was completed and opened in 1985.[3][4]

It has been changed internally over time, however the basic structure remains.[5][6]

Earlier landscape

The sloped walkway just east of the building runs roughly along the alignment of the old Museum Street, which ran between James Street and Francis Street. The street had one of the most mixed and unique streetscapes in this area of Perth – which was all removed in the construction of the new library building.

Only one building is commemorated on the Alexander Library Building structure – the Perth Baptist Church which was in Museum Street from 1899 to 1979. The Theosophical Bookshop and library was long established at the corner of Museum and James Streets. The streetscape can be found in Wise's Directories for the earlier decades.

Plaques at entrance

view from the steps on James Street
  • 30 November 1979 – Commencement of Construction
  • 18 June 1985 – Opening of Building

References

  1. ↑ Alexander, Fred (1976), Library Board collection, retrieved 17 April 2017
  2. ↑ "J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History. -along with the other library services run by the Library Board of Western Australia has moved into the new Alexander Library Building which was officially opened on 18 June, 1985-", Archives and Manuscripts, 14 (2): -111--128, November 1986, ISSN 0157-6895
  3. ↑ The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, n.p, retrieved 17 April 2017
  4. ↑ Library Board of Western Australia (1985), The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, State Library Service of Western Australia, retrieved 17 April 2017
  5. ↑ Library and Information Service of Western Australia (1990), How to find your way around the Alexander Library building, LISWA, retrieved 17 April 2017
  6. ↑ The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, n.p, retrieved 17 April 2017


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