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AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND LIBRARIES

Added on: 9th Oct 2015

 

VICTORIAN STATE LIBRARY, AUSTRALIA

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This library was first opened in 1856 with a collection of 3,800 books

and the famous domed reading room was opened in 1913. While the

dome’s skylights were covered with copper sheets in 1959 due to

water leakage, they have since been renovated, allowing beautiful natural

light to once again fill the reading room. This library is not only

massive – containing over 2 million books – it also has some fantastic

rarities, including the diaries of the city’s founders, folios of

Captain James Cook, and the armour of famed outlaw Ned Kelly.

 

 

THE STATE LIBRARY OF NEW SOUTH WALES,

AUSTRALIA

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The oldest library in all of Australia, the State Library started as

the Australian Subscription Library in 1826, and the current

building was built in 1845. The most famous, and most stunning,

part of the library is the Mitchell Wing, which was completed in

1910. The wing was named for David Scott Mitchell who had a

fantastic collection of older books, including original journals of

James Cook. The library now houses over 5 million items, including

2 million books and 1.1 million photographs.

 

 

THE STATE LIBRARY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

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The State Library of South Australia is not as large as some of the

other Australian State libraries, but it does have the distinction

of having the largest collection dating from pre-European times in its

South Australiana collection. This collection is mostly contained within

the Mortlock Wing, the oldest and most gorgeous part of the library.

Opened in 1884, the building originally held 23,000 books and employed

three librarians. Since then, the collection has expanded so much

that two massive buildings had to be added to the library, although

the Mortlock Wing remains the most visually impressive.

 

 

VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY, AUSTRALIA

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The Parliament House was built in stages, starting in 1855, and the

library was one of the first things completed after the Legislative

Assembly and Council. While construction continued all the way

through 1929, the building’s Roman Revival design is fluent and smooth,

so the whole thing seems like one single entity rather than a series of

extra wings tagged on throughout the years.

 

 

BARR SMITH LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

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In 1927, the last heir to a prominent philanthropic Australian family

offered £20,000 to the University of Adelaide for a new library, on

the condition that it be named after his father, Robert Barr Smith.

The red brick library was completed in 1932, complete with two

friezes commemorating the donations of the Barr Smiths. Since the

collection expanded quite quickly, addition after addition had to be

added. These days, the library holds over two million volumes and

now spans over almost 21,000 square meters.

 

 

TUGGERANONG LIBRARY, AUSTRALIA

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Lake Tuggeranong is a man-made body of water created by a dam

in 1987. As a result, the suburban town built around the lake is

equally new, but with the lovely scenery, it’s no wonder that the local

architecture is a step above typical suburban towns. The

Tuggeranong Town Centre Library is no exception and is, in fact,

one of the most picturesque buildings in town – particularly when

viewed from the water where you can see its reflection. While it might

not be particularly old or have an impressive collection of rare books,

with a view like this, it certainly deserves its place on this list.

 

 

THE GEORGE FORBES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AT

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, NEW ZEALAND

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Lincoln University isn’t huge, nor is the George Forbes Memorial Library

located at the heart of the campus inside Ivey Hall, but what they

lack in size they make up for in beauty. Ivey Hall was opened in 1880

and while the library was originally opened in the George Forbes Memorial

Building in 1960, it was moved into Ivey Hall in 1988 after the building

underwent a major refurbishment.

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO CENTRAL LIBRARY,

NEW ZEALAND

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There are ten different libraries at the University of Otago, and when it

comes to looks and impressive collections, the Central Library

stands above the rest, with its gorgeous, modern architecture that lets

in ample natural light and its Special Collection containing over 9000

books printed before 1801. The library offers over 2000 study spaces for

students and over 500,000 books, periodicals and microfilms.

 


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