Geelong Library and Heritage Centre facts for kids
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| Formation | 1858 (library), 1979 (heritage centre) |
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| Headquarters | Little Malop St., Geelong |
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The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is a special place in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It's a library, an archive, and a resource center all in one! The library first started way back in 1858. Later, in 1979, the Geelong Historical Records Centre was created. This center keeps important old records and stories from the area. It's known as the biggest regional archive in Victoria, helping to save the state's history.
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What is the Geelong Library?
The Geelong Library started in 1858. It was first part of the Mechanics Institute, which was a place for learning. In 1876, the library moved to a bigger, fancy building. It moved again in 1962 to a new building in Johnstone Park. This building was designed by Buchan, Laird & Buchan.
What is the Geelong Heritage Centre?
The Geelong Heritage Centre used to be called the Geelong Historical Records Section. Its name changed in 2003. This center holds many old records and historical items. These were collected by the Geelong Historical Society. The Heritage Centre is a key place for learning about Geelong's early people and history. For example, it helped celebrate 150 years since Matthew Flinders explored the area. He even climbed Station Peak nearby!
Who are the Geelong Historical Society?
| Formation | 1944 |
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| Type | Historical Society |
| Headquarters | 6 Balmoral Crescent, Rippleside |
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| Website | Geelong Historical Society |
The Geelong Historical Society is a group that helps save Geelong's past. It was very important in starting the Geelong Historical Records Centre in 1979. They worked with the local government and the Public Record Office Victoria. This made the center an official place to keep old government records.
When was the Society Formed?
The Geelong Historical Society officially began in 1944. Its goal was to keep the history of Geelong alive. There were earlier tries to start the society, like in 1938. But World War II likely delayed its official start.
It was the third historical society of its kind in Victoria. It was also one of the busiest. The society has a huge collection of items. They do a lot of research and publish many books. Their work in saving Geelong's history was recognized in a special book about Geelong's 150th anniversary.
How Did the Collection Start?
A meeting to start a historical society happened in November 1923. People from the Gordon Institute called the meeting. The Mayor of Geelong, Howard Hitchcock, suggested an exhibition. This show would display "relics and historical records" at the Geelong City Hall. It opened in September 1921. The items from this show became the first part of the Geelong Historical Society's collection.
Who are Key Members?
A local historian named Norm Houghton helped organize the collection. A past president, Peter F. B. Alsop, wrote many books about local history. Other important members include William James Morrow, who won an award for his work. Peter Mansfield, another great historian, also won a prize for his writing.
What Does the Society Do?
Since the 1950s, the society has held talks and trips. They have worked with the Geelong Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre keeps the old records collected by the society. The society also helps with special events and setting up monuments. They are often seen as the best source for early Geelong history. They helped celebrate 150 years since Matthew Flinders explored the area. They also helped save important old buildings like the Barwon Sewer Aqueduct.
The Geelong Historical Records Centre was created thanks to the society's hard work. It became an official place for old records in 1979. It is the second largest public archive in Victoria, after the Public Record Office Victoria.
What Publications Does the Society Have?
The society publishes a magazine called Investigator. It comes out four times a year. There are special indexes to help people find articles from 1965 to 2009.
The New Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
While the new building was being built, the Geelong Heritage Centre moved. It was temporarily housed in the National Wool Museum. The new Geelong Library and Heritage Centre was built on the site of the old library. It is near the Geelong War Memorial and the Geelong Art Gallery.
What Does the New Building Look Like?
The new building was designed by ARM Architecture. It has a unique dome made of glass and concrete. People say it's a "cool new addition" to Geelong's buildings. The center is very big, covering over 6,000 square meters. It has a special area for kids to explore. There's also a youth area and a place to keep 120,000 books and other items. The building cost about A$45 million.
The dome design looks like domes on famous old libraries around the world. It has 332 special panels. These panels make the building fit in with its neighbors. These include the old Geelong Art Gallery and the old Geelong Town Hall. The new building opened on November 21, 2015.
What Can You Find Inside?
The Library and Heritage Centre holds over 1 million items! This includes many books you can borrow or read there. It also has special science collections. The local history collection is in a special room called the Vault Kim barne thaliyu. This room has resources just for the history of Geelong and the areas around it.
