Toowong Municipal Library Building facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toowong Municipal Library Building
Former Toowong Municipal Library Building, 1998
Location	579–583 Coronation Drive, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1940s–1960s (post-World War II)
Built	1961
Architect	James Birrell
Architectural style(s)	Modernism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Toowong Municipal Library (former)
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	28 August 1998
Reference no.	602011
Significant period	1960s (historical) 1960s (fabric) 1960s–1990s (social)
Significant components	library – building, garden/grounds
Builders	Stuart Brothers
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The Toowong Municipal Library Building is a special old building in Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a public library. It was designed by James Birrell and built in 1961 by Stuart Brothers. This building is important because of its unique design and history, so it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 1998. In 2001, the library moved to Toowong Village Shopping Centre. Since then, the original building has been used for different businesses.

History of the Toowong Library

The Toowong Municipal Library building is easy to spot on Coronation Drive. It first opened in April 1961. It was designed by James Birrell, who was the main architect for the Brisbane City Council at the time. This building shows how the City Council worked to add more public places after World War II.

Building Brisbane After the War

After World War II, it was hard to find workers and materials for building. So, only essential things were built. But then, the Brisbane City Council started a big plan to build new and better places for people. This included parks, pools, and libraries. Between 1945 and the early 1960s, about ten new libraries were built.

James Birrell was the Chief Architect for the Brisbane City Council from 1955 to 1960. He designed many different projects, from large places like the Centenary Pool Complex to smaller things like bus shelters. The Toowong Library was one of his major projects.

The Architect: James Birrell

James Birrell finished his architecture studies in 1951. He was inspired by his teacher, Roy Grounds, who liked to use strong, simple shapes in his buildings. Birrell also used unique shapes that stood out in their surroundings. The Toowong Library is a great example of his style.

The library building has twelve sides and its walls lean outwards. It looks a bit like a "flying saucer" and is easy to see from far away on the busy road. Birrell believed in using new materials and building methods. After the war, there were many new technologies in building, especially with steel. Companies like Evans Deakin, who built ships, helped create the complex steel shapes needed for Birrell's designs.

Many of Birrell's buildings for the Brisbane City Council have been changed over time. But the Toowong Library still looks mostly like it did when it was first built. After working for the Brisbane City Council, Birrell went on to design buildings for universities and even in Papua New Guinea. He is known as an important and creative architect.

How Public Libraries Grew in Queensland

Having public libraries run by city councils is quite new in Queensland. Before the late 1940s, places called "Schools of Arts" or private "Reading Rooms" offered similar services. These were often run by local groups.

In 1878, local councils were allowed to open libraries, but it wasn't common until the 1900s. The first public library funded by a council opened in Kurilpa (West End) in 1929. Things really changed after the Libraries Act was passed in 1943. This law helped set up a State Library Board to make library services better across Queensland. By 1950, Brisbane had seven libraries, and by April 1961, when the Toowong Library opened, there were twelve.

Before Toowong, James Birrell designed two other libraries for the Council: at Chermside (1957-58) and Annerley (1956-57). These were modern but more traditional than the Toowong design.

Planning and Controversy

Discussions about a library in Toowong began in 1956. The Council wanted a big library for the western suburbs. In March 1959, they decided to use a Council storage site on Coronation Drive. Two houses on nearby blocks were bought and taken down to make space for the new library.

The design of the Toowong Library was very new and caused some debate. When plans for the unusual 12-sided building were first shown in 1959, newspapers wrote about it. The City Librarian even complained about the design. They thought square buildings were better for bookshelves.

James Birrell explained his reasons:

• He said that while square buildings might have more shelf space, a round or circular building is cheaper to build for a large open area.
• He also said it was better for natural light, fresh air, and moving around inside the reading room.
• He believed each building should be judged on its own design.

The debate continued until the library opened on April 13, 1961. The project went ahead mostly as planned because the Lord Mayor, Alderman Reg Groom, and local councillor, Alderman Ord, supported modern architecture. An article in The Courier-Mail even suggested the controversy showed how lively the local architecture scene was.

Building and Features

The library cost about £26,000 to build. Local company Stuart Brothers built it using new methods and materials. Many architecture magazines featured the building after it opened.

New materials were used, like special plywood panels and a roof made with layers of fibre board, felt, and a copper edge. The very top of the roof had a large amber dome that let light in. This was thought to be the biggest acrylic dome made in Australia at the time. The windows could even be opened by a machine! Inside, the ceiling had special lights hidden behind clear panels.

The library was carefully placed on its site. From the street, it looks like a one-story building floating among the trees. But from the back, you can see it has two stories. The lower part is made of dark bricks. The outdoor areas were designed by a talented landscape architect named Harry Oakman, using rocks, palms, and other plants.

Changes Over Time

In the 1960s, after Birrell left the Council, some changes were made to the library's lighting. In 1982, the library was almost closed when a new one opened in Indooroopilly. But local people fought to keep it open, and it reopened in 1983. More changes were made in 1983 when a room on the lower floor was used as an office for the local councillor. This room was originally meant to be an auditorium.

By 2001, the outside of the building had been painted. The amber roof dome was replaced with a large funnel shape that hides air conditioning equipment. However, much of the inside still looks original, with unpainted wood, glazed bricks, and some of the first furniture. The building stopped being the Toowong Library in 2001 and is now privately owned.

What the Building Looks Like

The old Toowong Municipal Library is on the west side of Coronation Drive. It's a two-story building surrounded by plants, with a car park and a playground nearby.

The bottom floor is made of brick and has a shape made from three circles joining together. Above this, the main library floor "floats." It has a 12-sided shape, and its outer walls slant outwards as they go up. The outside walls are made of steel frames that cross diagonally, with plywood panels and wood trim. The top two rows of steel frames have glass panels, and the very top ones can open.

The first floor is a concrete slab supported by the brick base and twelve steel columns. The roof slopes upwards to the center, where the new funnel-shaped air conditioning unit is. The roof is covered with metal.

You enter the main library floor from wide concrete steps off Coronation Drive. There's a covered entrance with glass doors. You can get to the lower floor from a door at the back or by an inside staircase. The lower floor has glazed brick walls and timber-framed windows.

Inside the main library floor, it's mostly an open space. In the middle, there's a large, round counter area. This counter and the office space behind it are lined with vertical wood strips. A small office is next to the counter, separated by glass screens to keep the open feeling. A spiral concrete staircase connects the two floors. The lower floor has a concrete floor and glazed brick walls. There are original wooden cupboards, shelves, and counters. This floor also has a toilet and another large area with a reception, office, and storage.

Why the Building is Special

The former Toowong Municipal Library Building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:

• Shows Queensland's History: This building shows how the Brisbane City Council improved public services after World War II. It also shows how public libraries became more common after the Libraries Act of 1943.
• Rare and Unique: It's a rare and mostly unchanged example of James Birrell's work. He was a very important architect, and this building shows his ideas and skills. He designed over 150 projects for the Council, but few are still intact.
• Great Example of Architecture: It's a good example of an important style of architecture in Australia after the war, influenced by architects like Roy Grounds.
• Beautiful Design: The library has a special look and design. It was meant to be a landmark for Toowong. The way it's placed on the land, its size, textures, and shapes all make it a beautiful and well-designed building. It's considered one of the best examples of post-war architecture in Queensland.
• Creative and Technical Achievement: The building shows Birrell's focus on strong structures and his use of new building materials and techniques. These new ideas came from the skills learned during the war. The project was featured in many building and architecture magazines.
• Important to the Community: The building has been very important to the Toowong community and wider Brisbane area as a public place that many people used.
• Connected to James Birrell: It has a strong connection to the architect, James Birrell, as a great example of his many important works for the Council.