Library Services Advisory Committee - Call for Nominations!

The City of Boroondara is currently calling for community nominations for its Library Services Advisory Committee. If you live, work or study in Boroondara and would like to have a say about your libraries, have a look at the Committee's Terms of Reference on Council's website. Nominations close on 20 June and should be emailed to anne.holmes@boroondara.vic.gov.au.

#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.

Boroondara 150 - Kew Library

Exterior of the Kew Public Library in Walpole Street, originally a cottage next door to the municipal offices.

The first library in Kew was that of the Kew Literary and Scientific Society which was opened in August 1860. At the height of its popularity, the library had 8,000 volumes. In 1904 a cottage adjoining the Kew Town Hall was purchased for use as a library. Kew Council took over the library, now Kew Public Library, in 1915 and ran it until 1917 when the Kew Traders Association took charge. Finally in 1937 the library was closed, a Library Committee set up by Council and a major overhaul of stock and renovation of the library building undertaken. the bulk of the stock was pulped, new stock was purchased and at this stage the children's section was established. The Library was reopened in December 1937 and from 1947 received State Government funding of £1 for £1 through the Free Libraries Services Board. Kew Councillor and historian, W.D. Vaughan, was for many years a member of this Board and served as chairman.




W.D. Vaughan, Kew Councillor and historian. Cr Vaughan was chairman of the Library Committee as well as member of the Free Libraries Service Board of Victoria.



"Silence must be observed" states the stern sign over the door in this photograph taken in 1945 of the Children's section of the former Kew Public Library in Walpole Street.


Kew Library soon outgrew the cottage and extensions were completed in October 1953. Further extensions and a complete renovation was undertaken the following year with the civic opening on 19 August 1954. These photographs show the exterior of the renovated building and views of various parts of the library.


1953 extensions...





...and after the 1954 extension and renovation.







The interior of the newly renovated library showing the light filled space, the shelves of books, the catalogue drawers and circulation desk, 1954.


The Tiny Tots corner of the children's section of the Kew Public Library appears here, in 1954, in pristine condition and without the library bear which has been a feature of the children's section for so long.
...and the Children's Section.

Boroondara Libraries 150

In 1938 Hawthorn City Library moved from the Town Hall to this building adjacent to it. Many older residents have fond childhood memories of this building and the programmes developed by Mrs Carbines.





Mrs Carbines, librarian of Hawthorn City library from 1935 to 1960, established a flourishing children's service with many and varied activities as well as a bookmobile service which was much more significant in days when car ownership was limited. Her period of office saw the establishment of Hawthorn City Library as a professionally run, quality library service. When she died in August 1960, the Hawthorn Library was open 48 hours a week and over 140,000 loans were issued in 1959/60.

The following photographs show the interior of the library in Burwood Road.
Adult residents make use of their library on a wintry evening in 1938.

The children's library at the Burood Road Library was up steep stairs on the first floor but judging by the busyness the younger residents of Hawthorn were not put off.This photo from 1948 shows the new Junior Section.

Boroondara Libraries 150

On 27 July 1860, the Government Gazette proclaimed the municipality of Hawthorn. Hawthorn Library moved east to the first Hawthorn Town Hall in Burwood Road when an extension shown in the photograph was completed in 1862. The library opened on this site on 5 February 1862.




Apollos Slatterie, Town Clerk of the Municipality of Hawthorn from 1875-1882 and editor of the local newspaper, the Boroondara Standard, claimed responsibility for calling together the meeting of local residents which resulted in the establishment of Hawthorn Library.

He was also Honorary Librarian, a task he continued to discharge after his retirement as Town clerk and despite his blindness. He achieved his duties by having one of his many children on hand to fetch books for the library users! It is probable that standards were not too high, as in 1891 an irate resident wrote to the local paper complaining about the library not opening on time and spoke of "an air of decay pervading the library"!






Edward Morrison was Librarian for the Municipality of Hawthorn from 1900-1927 when Hawthorn Library was located in the 1888 Town Hall.
From 1902 to 1921 he was both "Dog Registrar and Librarian" but gave up his dog registration to concentrate on library membership from 1922! In 1927, Hawthorn Library was open 33 hours a week, there were 9000 books and loans per week were between 800-1000.





Children from Hawthorn Primary school celebrating Flower day in 1916 pose for the camera in Burwood Road in front of the Hawthorn Free library which was situated from 1888 in the Beswicke designed Town Hall.