#fp2012 Old Camberwell Library front door 52/22/2

Old Camberwell Library front door 52/22/2, a photo by Boroondara Libraries on Flickr.

This photo is submitted to the Flickr Friday Photos 2012 under the theme of "doors".

Like the previous photo, these doors also once had another use. They are now an emergency entrance fro mthe Council offices but previously were the front doors to Camberwell Library.

#fp2012 #blogjune Old Camberwell Library back door 52/22/1

Old Camberwell Library back door 52/22/1, a photo by Boroondara Libraries on Flickr.

This photo is submitted to Flickr Friday Photos 2012 under the theme of "doors".

The doors shown here were once the back entrance and loading dock for Camberwell Library. The door to the left was an entrance to the workroom and the door in the centre of the photo opened into the main staircase and thence to the circulation desk.

Since renovations to this 1890 building and the moving of Camberwell Library to temporary accommodation six years ago, the doors are now internal and lead to Council offices, meeting rooms and the Council chamber.

Dappled light in Camberwell Library garden 52/6/2

Dappled light in Camberwell Library garden 52/6/2, a photo by Boroondara Libraries on Flickr.

This second photo for the #fp2012 reflects both light and shade. The dappled light showing through the trees make this seat a popular spot for the community to relax. It has been very hard to get a photo of this without members of the community on the seat. There always seems to be someone sitting there resting, reading or one day there was a mother having a picnic with her children.

Camberwell Library has been housed in temporary accommodation in this house in Inglesby Road for the last five years. The house was the former resident of the City of Camberwell Hallkeeper. Camberwell Library which was previously housed in Camberwell Road in the 1890 clocktower building moved here to allow that building to be renovated and returned to its former civic function. The adult library now houses the Council Chamber and associated meeting rooms.

Camberwell Library is scheduled to open in new premises in the former Camberwell Centre in Camberwell Road in October 2012 and we are looking forward both to the new premises but also to the relocation of the Camberwell local and family history collections to this library.

If you want further information on the history of Camberwell Library and to check out some more historical photos, search on "Camberwell Library" in the word cloud on the right.

#blogjune Camberwell Central Library

Camberwell's free public library service began in 1955 and the City Library was located in the old Subscription Library building in Canterbury Gardens. By 1961 the City's book stock had increased from 6,000 volumes to 18,000 volumes, membership and book loans had also increased and it was apparent that larger premises were needed.

Consequently, in 1961 the City library moved to premises in the old Town Hall building in Camberwell Road. Although built in 1891 as a civic building, the building was converted through major alterations to the interior as a library. This new library replaced the old site in Canterbury Gardens as the Central Library, but Canterbury Library continued as a branch library until the end of 1977.


Councillor H.F.W.Dawson, Chairman of the Library Committee, presided over proceedings at the opening of Camberwell Library on 23 June 1961 and the Chief Secretary, Arthur Rylah, was guest speaker.

#blogjune Camberwell Library and the Bookmobile

In 1957 Camberwell Council spent 8,000 pounds on the purchase of a Bookmobile. The Bookmobile initially visited 8 sites throughtout the Camberwell area, operating from the rear of the Canterbury Library. It was estimated then in 1957 that this "Information, Education, Recreation Vehicle" would serve the City for ten years. In fact the Bookmobile went out for the last time on 20 Dec 1979, having doubled its life expectancy.


City Librarian Tom Woodrow poses for the camera during the official launch of the Bookmobile in 1957. Was this the first book issued from the Bookmobile? And who is the smiling woman?



Ladies boarding the Bookmobile c.1970.

#blogjune Camberwell Library

Thomas Woodrow was the first Chief Librarian of the City of Camberwell. He was appointed in 1954 to establish the new library service. As chief Librarian for 21 years he was known as an innovative and far-sighted individual. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library and the establishment of branches at Ashburton and Balwyn.






Camberwell's free public library service began in 1955 and the City Library was located in the old Canterbury Subscription Library building in Canterbury Gardens.