Alexander Library Building
Alexander Library Building | |
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Front entrance of Alexander Library Building | |
General information | |
Status | Complete |
Type | Library |
Location | Between James Street Mall and Francis Street Perth |
Address | 25 Francis Street, Perth |
Town or city | Perth |
Country | Australia |
Coordinates | 31°56′56″S 115°51′38″E / 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 |
The Alexander Library Building, in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia, houses the State Library of Western Australia, the J S Battye Library, and the State Records Office, in the Perth Cultural Precinct in Northbridge in Perth, Western Australia. The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts.
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 one of the most mixed and unique streetscapes in this area of Perth – 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