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Shellharbour City LGA

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Shellharbour City Council

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Shellharbour City Libraries

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NameShellharbour City LibrariesGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressShellharbour CityDescriptionFrom the Colonial Secretary’s Office, Sydney, 25th October 1873 signed by Henry Parkes. BOROUGH OF SHELLHARBOUR By-Laws. ‘The following By-Laws made by the Council of the Borough of Shellharbour, for regulating the Free Library established in that Municipality, having been confirmed by His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, are published in accordance with the requirements of the “Municipalities Act of 1867.”

Contents of this By-Law were made and passed by the Municipal Council 6th September 1873, signed by Robert Wilson Mayor and Richard Hall Council Clerk.

In 1865, the Shellharbour Mutual Improvement Society had met at the Wesleyan Church under the elected president Rev.T.Angwin, Edward Graham Secretary, Robert Wilson treasurer and G. Wenham junior, librarian. The Society met at Shellharbour and Albion Park.

A library had been established at the Presbyterian Sunday School, and Wesleyan Church. On January 24, 1874, the Shellharbour Public Library was opened by the Mayor Robert Wilson. Establishment of the literary library was due to the representations of Alderman Henry Hicks.

The library eventually found a home at the School of Arts building opposite the Wesleyan Church in Mary Street. George Laurence Fuller gave land and a substantial amount of money for the establishment of the School of Arts in 1896.

In 1939, the New South Wales Government passed the Library Act for local councils to become involved in providing library services.
Shellharbour Village Memorial Library

The Shellharbour School of Arts was established in August 1895 when the Shellharbour Municipal Council agreed to provide the Council Chambers building in Addison Street for a meeting place until Council sold the chambers building in 1896.

The School of Arts Committee was given land and a substantial donation of cash by George Laurence Fuller to erect a new building in Mary Street opposite the Public School. The School of Arts was opened by the end of the year 1896, and with a library, served the recreational needs of the people, and continued actively as Shellharbour’s library, kindergarten, community and debating room.

In 1924, the Thomas Memorial Library was installed in a room at the School of Arts in memory of surveyor W. M. Thomas, and included a library of 1,150 books bequeathed by him. The room to contain the library was built by his wife Isabella in memory of their father John Thomas, 1857 settler of Shellharbour, one of the founders of the original Shellharbour Steam Navigation Co., Butter Export Co, and Anglican Church and an Alderman of the first Municipal Council.

Shellharbour Village Library

When the School of Arts and library was moved from Mary Street in 1953, council built a carpark entrance on the site of the building for a driveway. The School of Arts and library building was placed on the vacant land where later the Shellharbour Village Public Hall was built, n/w corner of Addison and Wentworth Street. The top floor of the hall was used for the Shellharbour Branch Library, the main library of Shellharbour Municipal Council.

The Hall was officially opened on 8th December 1961 by the Minister for Local Government Mr. Hills. The library initially opened 11th December 1961 first day, on Mondays and Thursdays expanding to Wednesdays, 206 adults and 475 children becoming members. The service extended to Warilla, Barrack Point and Barrack Heights and in 1964 a bookmobile service was provided.

The Shellharbour Village library moved to the vacated Baby Health Centre, Wentworth Street in 1996, currently at this site (2009). The hall is now occupied by the Roo Theatre.

Warilla Library

Library services were provided to Warilla from Shellharbour Village library. Council later rented premises in a small garage at 133 Shellharbour Road Warilla where a library opened on 9th April 1968. Mrs. Diane Eagleton was Chief Librarian for 152 adults and 74 children who joined the library.

Membership increased to 491 adults and 481 children, and with limited space the library eventually moved to a shared space with a Community Centre Complex Lake Entrance Road and adjacent to Warilla Council Chambers.

The new Community Centre was opened on 26th November 1976, by Ald. A.J. Beaton, Mayor, with Hon K.G. Booth M.L.A. Minister for Sport Recreation and Tourism, declaring the building open, and the library commenced operations on 29th November 1976 opening Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday.

Albion Park Library

According to the Stan Thomas book “Town at The Crossroads”, a library was conducted from the first public school built 1872 in Terry Street Albion Park, until a new school was built in 1892 in Tongarra Road.

A debating society had functioned in the 1890s, and a meeting in 1898 formed the Albion Park School of Arts, Mr. J. Wright elected secretary. It was officially opened by William Moles on 19th October 1898 with a library in a room in the old Town Hall Tongarra Road Albion Park. (ref. Green Meadows-William A. Bayley).

In 1897, the Shellharbour Municipal Council Chambers had moved operations to Tongarra Road Albion Park from Addison Street Shellharbour. The new Council Chambers was situated on the southern side of Tongarra Road east of Terry Street, and opened on Thursday 23rd December 1897. When the library was established in the building, the librarian was Miss. Louise Mood, daughter of Louis Robert Mood, the wheelwright and blacksmith of Albion Park.

The library which had been conducted from the Institute since 1929, moved over the road to the new Centenary Hall built in 1959 to commemorate the Centenary of the Shellharbour Municipality 1859 – 1959.

The Albion Park Branch Library opened in September 1960 and operated from the downstairs front rooms of the Centenary hall with storage upstairs. In 1986 a new Library was built in Russell Street, Albion Park. It was officially opened on June 12, 1986 by Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Neville Wran QC MP Minister for the Arts and Ethnic Affairs. The library was extended in 1994.

Oak Flats Library

Oak Flats Branch Library commenced providing services in August 1976, following the construction of a building designed specifically for library operations, and using finance from the first Commonweath Grants Commission allocation to Local Government.

Situated in Central Avenue cnr. Fisher Street, the Branch Library was officially opened 30th July 1976 by Hon. R.F.X. Connors Member for Cunningham conducted by Ald. Ray Clay, Mayor of Shellharbour Municipality.

The building cost $90,000 to construct. Shelving, floorcoverings and other furniture and The fittings added another $10,000+ to the value of the buildings and its fittings.

Operations began on Tuesday 3rd August, with Chief Librarian, Mary Heard. The library serviced Oak Flats, Albion Park Rail, Green Meadows and Balarang. 144 junior and 127 adults joined the library.

The original bookstock of 6,000 items was financed from Loan funds and two private grants – one from A.I.&S and one from the Joint Coal Board. Since then the collection has grown to 20,425 items.

On the first day of business, Tuesday 3rd August, 1976 a total of 992 books were issued, while 144 juniors and 127 adults joined the library.

Photograph

Former Warilla Library

Shellharbour Council Staff Dianne Allen

Albion Park Library

Shellharbour City Libraries Staff

Mural at Oak Flats Library

Chris Faricy, officer in charge at Oak Flats Library

Nestle Write Around Australia Zone Finals at Warilla Library 1998

View south-west from Ebenezer Russell's homestead, 'Croome'

Ruin of the flour Mill on Ebenezer Russell's original 'Croom' Estate

The stables at Ebenezer Russell's Croom farm

Shellharbour Library 2000

The Dairy on Ebenezer Russell's 'Croom' farm

Shellharbour Library 2000

The Dairy on Ebenezer Russell's 'Croom' farm

Ebenezer Russell's Croom Farm - The Stables

The residence of Alexander and Sarah Badans

View of 'Seaview' over Whispering Gallery

'Kimmorley', Croom

'Seaview', Stoney Creek, Croom

Cr Frank Smithers at Macquarie Pass Centenary celebration

Object

NSW Municipalities Borough of Shellharbour By-Laws for Regulating the Shellharbour Free Library

Shellharbour Municipal Council Information Booklets

Shellharbour Municipal Council Library Cards

Shellharbour Municipal Council Library Date Stamps

Shellharbour Library Stamp

Catalogue of Books in the Shellharbour Free Public Library

Artwork

Who's got the Chippies?

Blue Banded Bee

Future Shade

Document

Bill Muir - Oral History

NSW Municipalities Borough of Shellharbour By-Laws for Regulating the Shellharbour Free Library

Place

Shellharbour Civic Centre

Collection

Warilla Library Public Art

Organisation

Shellharbour City Council

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LocalityShellharbour City LGAOrganisationShellharbour City Council

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Shellharbour City Libraries