GSA Guide - Former State Library Claimed

History: 

The former State Library was originally built between 1876 and 1879 to house the Queensland Museum. The old Museum was converted into a library in 1898 and on the 29th April 1902 the free Public Library of Queensland was opened by the Governor of Queensland Sir Herbert Chermside. The library changed its name in 1971 to the State Library of Queensland and operated in this building for 88 years until 1988.

The building is designed in an Italianate Classic Revival style, with large columns dominating the front facade incorporating Corinthian type capitals, modeled on 16th century Italian Renaissance.

For the centenary of Queensland's self-government from New South Wales in 1959, an extension was added by the then Public Works Department. The extension was a modern design including a large mural in ceramic tiles. The mural was created as a result of a nation-wide competition by Victorian artist Lindsay Edwards.

The extensions were opened officially in August 1959 by Princess Alexandra of Kent. The clash of building styles is very appparent between the two structures. The building now houses offices of Tabcorp.

Building stones

The primary building stone used