Alexander Library Building
The Alexander Library Building is located in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia.
| Alexander Library Building | |
|---|---|
 Front entrance of Alexander Library Building | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Library |
| Location | Between James Street Mall and Francis Street, Perth |
| Address | 25 Francis Street, Perth |
| Town or city | Perth |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31.948822°S 115.860565°E |
| Current tenants | State Library of Western Australia State Records Office |
| Construction started | 1982 |
| Completed | 1985 |
| Opened | 18 June 1985 |
| Cost | A$37.6 million |
| Landlord | Government of Western Australia |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol |
| Structural engineer | Norman, Disney and Young |
It was named after Western Australian historian and former member of the Library Board, Fred Alexander.[1]
It houses the State Library of Western Australia, the J S Battye Library,[2] and the State Records Office, in the Perth Cultural Precinct.
The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts. It was completed and opened in 1985.[3][4]
It has been changed internally over time, however the basic structure remains.[5][6]
Earlier landscape
The sloped walkway just east of the building runs roughly along the alignment of the old Museum Street, which ran between James Street and Francis Street. The street had a unique streetscape, one of the most mixed in this area of the Perth central business district – which was all removed in the construction of the new library building.
Only one building is commemorated on the Alexander Library Building structure – the Perth Baptist Church which was in Museum Street from 1899 to 1979. The Theosophical Bookshop and library was long established at the corner of Museum and James Streets. The streetscape can be found in Wise's Directories for the earlier decades.
Plaques at entrance
- 30 November 1979 – Commencement of Construction
- 18 June 1985 – Opening of Building
References
- Alexander, Fred (1976), Library Board collection, retrieved 17 April 2017
- "J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History. -along with the other library services run by the Library Board of Western Australia has moved into the new Alexander Library Building which was officially opened on 18 June, 1985-", Archives and Manuscripts, 14 (2): –111–128, November 1986, ISSN 0157-6895
- The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, n.p, retrieved 17 April 2017
- Library Board of Western Australia (1985), The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, State Library Service of Western Australia, retrieved 17 April 2017
- Library and Information Service of Western Australia (1990), How to find your way around the Alexander Library building, LISWA, retrieved 17 April 2017
- The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985, n.p, retrieved 17 April 2017