Mt Claremont Library

Statement of Significance

The Mt Claremont Library has historic and social cultural heritage value. For two decades it has provided an important Library service for the small community in the coastal district ward. Before that it was a community hall used for local dramatic productions and many community groups. Designed by architects Parry, Rosenthal and Associates the Library has an interesting hexagonal shape that made the task of converting it to a library challenging.

Physical Description

This small hexagonal library was built in the 1970s. This was a Council Hall before becoming a library in 1978. The Pre-Primary centre. with similar detailing. is at the left of the main library building. The whole complex is set in amongst trees. near tennis courts. The building is linear with a hexagonal plan for the library in the centre. It has horizontal fascias and slit windows in rendered white brick walls. The building faces onto Montgomery Avenue, but is only accessible by foot from that road. The entrance through Adderly Street leads to the library by a small driveway. The timber fascia has inverted castellated detailing below it. The walls are stucco rendered and painted. New aluminium doors have been fitted to the original timber entrance.

History

The Mt Claremont Hall and Neighbouring Kindergarten were built in 1962. The architects were Parry, Rosenthal and Associates. Public Tenders for builders were invited in the 'West Australian' Newspaper on 20 December 1961. Greenhalgh and Hewett Pty Ltd won the contract to build the Kindergarten and Hall with a bid of £21.665. Mt Claremont Kindergarten began operating in 1963 under the direction of the Mt Claremont Kindergarten Association that became independent from the Mt Claremont Citizens Association. With tlte completion of the hall the Mt Claremont Citizens Association went about fostering youth activities in the district by establishing a Youth Group. The hall was used by a wide variety of community groups. including Titan Theatre Repertory Company, Assemblies of God Church. Brownies. F Gray Dance School. Eileen Moyle & Fiebig Yoga Classes and Nedlands Card Club. Social occasions for which the hall was hired included dinner dances and wedding receptions. Declining use of the hall and the need for a library led to the Mt Claremont Library where it is situated today (1998). Mt Claremont Branch Library opened on 17 April 1978 in what was formerly the Council Hall. Two staiT were provided to run the service for the Coastal District Ward which comprised Swanbourne, Mt Claremont. Graylands and parts ofFioreat Park. After two weeks membership stood at 106. By 1988 this had grown to 690 members but this was still not considered enough to be viable. The library came under threat of closure. Factors contributing to the problems were the position of the library and difficult access. A promotion exercise encouraging more use of the library led to a growth of membership. Today ( 1998) there are 1.754 members.

Integrity/Authenticity

Original

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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