South Brisbane Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Brisbane Library |
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Building in 2015
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| Location | 472 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1881–1902 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: South Brisbane Library (former), College / South Brisbane Municipal Library and School of Arts, Mechanics Institute and Library / South Brisbane Technical, South Brisbane Post and Telegraph / Office South Brisbane | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600302 |
| Significant period | 1880s–1900s (historical) 1880s–1910s (fabric) 1880s–1970s (social) |
| Significant components | post office, library – building, hall – concert |
| Builders | W Macfarlane |
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The South Brisbane Library is a special old building in South Brisbane, Australia. It used to be a library, but it has been many other things too! It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built between 1881 and 1902.
This building is important because of its history. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it is protected. Today, it is home to the Griffith University Film School, which is part of the Queensland College of Art.
A Building with Many Lives
This building is actually made up of three different parts. Each part was built at a different time for a different reason.
The First Building: Post Office (1881)
The first part was the South Brisbane Post Office, built in 1881. A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. Francis Drummond Greville Stanley designed it, and W Macfarlane was the builder.
The post office was on the ground floor. The postmaster, who ran the office, lived upstairs. His home had three bedrooms and a verandah. There was also a basement with a dining room, kitchen, and another bedroom.
The front of the building looked very grand. It had arches on the ground floor and an open verandah above.
From Post Office to Learning Centre
The Post Office closed in late 1889. After that, the building became the South Brisbane Mechanics Institute and Library. A Mechanics Institute was a place where working people could go to learn and improve their skills.
In 1893, the South Brisbane Town Council took over the building.
The Library and Technical College (1897)
Around 1897, the council added another building to the complex. This new part was on the corner. The whole place then became known as the South Brisbane Municipal Library and Technical College. A Technical College teaches practical skills. John Henry Burley is thought to be the architect for this section.
The Concert Hall (1902)
The third part of the complex was built in 1902. This was a concert hall, designed by Alexander Brown Wilson. A concert hall is a large room for performances like music concerts. This building also had classrooms for the Technical College in its basement.
An Art Gallery is Added
In 1909, the council received a large collection of artwork from Richard John Randall. Around the same time, the Queensland Government took over the Technical College. This meant many classrooms became empty.
The council decided to turn the library on the first floor into an art gallery. Architect George David Payne was hired to make these changes. The concert hall was also made bigger around 1911. It could then seat 600 people, and the supper room could hold 400. The art gallery officially opened in July 1914.
Later Years and Changes
Between 1910 and 1920, the outside of the old post office section was changed. The front was enclosed, and the walls were smoothed over.
In 1925, the Greater Brisbane City Council took over the building. The library continued to operate until 1973. However, the Randall art collection was moved to the Brisbane City Hall. The concert hall remained popular, especially during the Second World War (1939–45).
Between 1973 and about 1987, the building was not used much and became run down. But for World Expo '88, a big event held in Brisbane, the building was fixed up. It became a convention centre and a special club. The outside was painted, and the inside was changed a lot to create large meeting rooms and club areas. The old Post Office section became modern offices.
Today, the building is used by the Griffith University Film School.
What the Building Looks Like
The former South Brisbane Library is in a historic area near South Brisbane Memorial Park. It is across from the old South Brisbane Town Hall and close to the Queensland Maritime Museum. Other important places nearby include Somerville House and the Ship Inn.
The building is made of three parts that connect. The two-storey parts, which were the Post Office and Library, face Stanley Street. They both have similar pointed roofs and lines that show where the two floors are. The former City Concert Hall is a single-storey building that faces Dock Street. Both the hall and the corner building are made of different coloured bricks and have matching arched windows.
The Old Post Office Section
The first part, built in 1881, is a two-storey brick building with a basement. It has a hipped roof, which slopes on all sides. The front of this section has many-paned windows and two bay windows that stick out. The verandah roof is supported by large wooden brackets.
The Corner Section (Library)
The section built in the 1890s, on the corner, is made of bricks and is not perfectly even in shape. It has a pointed roof and a tower on the southern corner. When the building was renovated for World Expo '88, the inside was carpeted and painted. A new staircase was added, along with modern decorative brackets.
The Concert Hall Section
The third part, built in 1902, is a long rectangular building at the back. It has light-coloured horizontal lines and arched windows. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a raised vent along the top. Inside, the lower parts of the walls are covered with timber panels. The ceilings are sloped, and the stage is simple. French doors open onto a verandah.
A gallery and a new verandah were also added during the Expo renovations.
Why This Building is Important
The former South Brisbane Library was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is important for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: The building helps us understand how South Brisbane grew and changed. It was a post office, a place for learning, a library, an art gallery, and a concert hall. It reminds us of the community's past. It also shows where Stanley Street, a main road, used to be.
- It shows how buildings were designed: Even though the inside has been changed, the old concert hall still shows what an early 20th-century auditorium looked like. It was designed to be comfortable in Queensland's warm climate.
- It looks beautiful: Even though different architects designed the parts at different times, the building looks like one complete design. It is a significant landmark in the area and adds to the view from the river.
- It is linked to important people: The building is a good example of the public work of Brisbane architect AB Wilson.
