FDG Stanley's Old State Library + the 1959 Centennial Hall (Brisbane, Queensland)

            This building was constructed in two stages. The three-storeyed William Street section was erected by the colonial Queensland Government between 1876 and 1879, as the first purpose-built home for the Queensland Museum, which had been established in 1855. The four-storeyed extension was erected in 1958 - 1959 as the Queensland Government's major centennial project.

In 1876 the design for the first section was completed under the supervision of colonial architect FDG Stanley, and a construction contract for £10,701 was let to W Macfarlane. The building was erected as stage one of a complex which was to incorporate two flanking wings housing the main staircases, and an arcade and colonnade fronting the river.

The choice of a classical style of architecture, modelled on 16th century Italian buildings and its central location close to the city's southern entrance, reflected the museum's importance in the scientific and cultural life of Brisbane.

The building was completed and occupied early in 1879, but proved inadequate for museum purposes. In 1881 the area below was levelled and the basement was extended. By 1884 the government was setting aside funds for a new museum building, but economic depression necessitated the museum remaining in the cramped William Street premises until removed to the former Exhibition Building at Gregory Terrace in 1899.

A £1,900 contract was let in September 1900 for conversion of the former museum building into premises for the free Public Library of Queensland, established in 1896. The library opened in the refurbished building in April 1902. The name was changed to the State Library of Queensland in 1971.

The John Oxley Library, established in 1926 as the principal centre for research material on Queensland history, was housed in the State Library building from 1931.

As a major centennial project, the library building was extended in 1958 - 1959, at a cost of over £265,000. The additions, designed by government architects WG Thain, P Prystupa, U Stukoff, AJ Wheeler, D Davies and H de Jong, included an exhibition hall on the western side and reading rooms on the river elevation.

In 1958 national competitions were held for designs for a wall mural and sculpture to embellish the exterior of the new Centennial Hall. These were won by Victorian artist Lindsay Edward and Brisbane sculptor Leonard G Shillam. Shillam's aluminium sculpture was cast by the Non-Ferrous Foundry of Brisbane.

The extensions were opened officially in August 1959 by Princess Alexandra.

In 1964 - 1965 the first section was gutted and renovated, including removal of the skylight, at a cost of over £227,000. The exterior brickwork may have been rendered at this time also. The William Street frontage remained largely intact, as one of the city's few surviving 1870s facades.

The State and John Oxley libraries removed to new premises in the Southbank Cultural Centre in 1988, since which time the William Street building has been utilised as a library store.

Source: Queensland Heritage Register.

Taken on: January 1, 2016

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Sets appears in: • Old Queensland Government Complex (Demolished)

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Camera: Nikon D5500, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D5500
Lens:	TAMRON AF 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD B008N
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1600)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.2.1 (Windows)
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