State Library ... aGAIN ...

The vestibule often has a heads-up for a current exhibition or workshop.

The Mitchell Wing was commenced in 1910, which is quite late in the history of Sydney. Hence, it will be apparent that this building was not the original home of the State Library collection. The privately owned Australian Subscription Library commenced in 1826, in rented premises. In 1845 it moved into its own building diagonally opposite to where it stands today. In 1869, the ASL went broke and the state government bought it out, changing the name to The Sydney Free Public Library. Another example of privatise your profits, and socialise your losses.

Two views of the Mitchell Wing vestibule. One from the foyer (right), and the other from the first floor (left)showing the Abel Tasman marble map.

This marble staircase winds from the vestibule up to the first floor.

In 1895 it became The Public Library of New South Wales. In 1975 it was renamed yet again to The State Library of NSW. It is only in the last quarter century that I have overcome a childhood habit of refering to this library as The Mitchell Library.

A quotation from the Scottish philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, adorns the eastern wall of the vestibule. There is an item about the quotation in the Curio exhibition.

International Map Year 2015-2016

I must admit that I lose track of the plethora of "Year of"s. However, being a passionate historian, and Family Historian, this one holds a spot close to my heart. This exhibit is at the State Library of NSW in the over-bridge to the Galleries and Exhibition Rooms. It is one of my favourite spaces in the library complex, little used as most visitors use the stairs rather than the elevator. Their heads-up to International Map Year centres upon the production of a series of Sydney Suburban Borough maps in the mid 1890s, by Higinbotham & Robinson. The boundaries of the local parish are included in the municipality map. These parishes do not refer to religious divisions, but to the system used to record land ownership in our state from 1835. I live in the municipality of Willoughby. Back in 1890, it was mostly bush in my part of Sydney. The first estate was not carved out in the suburb of Castlecrag until 1920.

On the Street Where I Live - Macquarie Street

Left: Sydney Hospital (1880) Right: State Library of New South Wales (1906)

Left: Spire Of St Stephen's Uniting Church (1935) Right: Main window behind the mezzanine pews of St Stephen's Uniting Church (1935)

Left: Corner moulding Sydney Hospital (1880) Right: Above the main entrance, Colonial (or Chief) Secretary's building (1873-1880)

Left: Light on Sydney Hospital (1880) (1935) Right: Logo on cast-iron gate, The Mint (1811-1816)