Library History
Major Historical Milestones
Major milestones in the history of the City of Sydney Library are presented below.
1826
The birth of the City of Sydney Library is inextricably linked to that of the Australian Subscription Library, which later became the State Library of NSW.
1869
The State Government takes over responsibility for the Library, purchasing books and a site. The Library re-opens the same year as the Free Public Library of Sydney.
1877
A lending branch of the Library opens in the basement of the building on the corner of Bent and Macquarie Streets. The entrance to the lending branch is from Macquarie Street and the Library opens for issue and return of books on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 7pm. By the end of the year there are 1,225 registered borrowers.
1881
The lending branch of the Library moves into the former Presbyterian Church building in Macquarie Street. It is this lending branch of the Free Public Library of Sydney that was to become the City of Sydney Public Library.
1899
The lending branch of the library moves from the Macquarie Street building to the second floor of the Queen Victoria Market Building, now the Queen Victoria Building.
1908
Previously under the control of the State Government, the lending branch of the Library passes into the hands of the Municipal Council of Sydney.
1909
Transfer of the control and management of the Library from the State Government to the Municipal Council of Sydney is completed. Mr Charles H. Bertie is appointed City Librarian and the library becomes officially known as the Sydney Municipal Library.
1918
Due to increasing stock, the Sydney Municipal Library moves to the old concert hall of the Queen Victoria Building. The move to new quarters gives the City Librarian, Charles H. Bertie, the opportunity to introduce a Newspaper Room and expand the juvenile section into a separate children's library.
1949
This year sees a considerable expansion of the city boundaries and the municipality is reconstituted on 1 January as the Council of the City of Sydney. In addition to the City Library, branch libraries established in 1949 include: Alexandria, Paddington, Surry Hills, Glebe, Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo. In addition, to serve the infirm, a Mobile Library Service and Mobile Branch Library are also established. The branch libraries provide library services in the immediate area, as well as maintaining book deposit stations at a number of local schools.
1958
The Council of the City of Sydney assumes control of the Sydney Information Centre and the City Librarian becomes responsible for its administration. Staffed from the Library, the Centre provides information about Sydney, both for tourists and residents. The Centre continues to operate and in 1998 was under the control and responsibility of the City of Sydney Public Affairs Unit.
1963 (21 December)
The City Librarian, Frank Lancelot Sutherland Bell, died suddenly in office. He was succeeded by the Deputy Librarian John (Jack) Lyons who had been with the library since 1930.
1967
The area governed by the Council of the City of Sydney is reduced. Remaining branch libraries are Kings Cross, Paddington, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and the Mobile Library Service.
1970
The City Library moves to more spacious premises at the Town Hall end of the Queen Victoria Building. Mrs Sarah Walters becomes the first woman to be appointed City Librarian.
1974
The Haymarket branch library is added, catering especially to the Chinese speaking community.
1983-84
The City Library moves to 321 Pitt Street due to refurbishment of the Queen Victoria Building. There are two floors to the library.
1989
The Ultimo branch library opens, but closes again in the early 1990s during construction of a new library and community centre.
1990-92
The Haymarket branch library undergoes a major refurbishment.
1993
Due to local government boundary changes, the area governed by the Council of the City of Sydney is further reduced. In addition to the main library in Pitt Street the remaining branch libraries are Haymarket and Ultimo. Due to the lease running out and to increase in rent fees for the Pitt Street location, Council decides to move library into the Town Hall House building, owned by Council.
1994
The City Library moves into Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street (Level 3). The administration and technical services of the Library is located on Level 15. New and separate areas are set up within the Library including a Sound Lounge and the Sydney Room. To oversee the Sydney Room, a Local Studies Librarian is appointed for the first time.
1996
The City and branch libraries set up a new Windows based computer library system (Dynix Horizon) . Ultimo branch library reopens on the first floor of the new Ultimo Community Recreation Centre at 40 William Henry Street. The new branch library focuses on children's activities, storytime and providing public Internet access.
1997-98
The City Library undergoes a major refurbishment and staff restructuring. Control and responsibility for the Local Studies Collection is transferred to the City of Sydney Archives and materials are relocated.
2000-01
City of Sydney Library implements AS/NZS ISO 9002 Quality System Management. Partial refurbishment of Haymarket Library. Free access to major international databases. Internet courses in English and Chinese, major expansion of the music CD collection.
2002
Remote access to a range of research databases using library card numbers. Introduction of a DVD collection. Automated telephone renewal system available 24 hours a day.
2003
Due to local government boundary changes, the City takes control of branch libraries in Kings Cross and Glebe.
2004
Due to the amalgamation of the former City of Sydney and South Sydney councils, the new City inherits branch libraries at Newtown, Paddington, Surry Hills and Waterloo. The Kings Cross library branch moves to new premises at 50-52 Darlinghurst Road.
2005
The Town Hall branch of the City of Sydney Library Network relocates from 456 Kent Street (level 3) to exciting new premises at Customs House, Circular Quay.
The City of Sydney Library Network has a total of nine branches located at: Circular Quay, Glebe, Haymarket, Kings Cross, Newtown, Paddington, Surry Hills, Ultimo and Waterloo.
The Town Hall House Library Link opens.
2006
Customs House Library wins architectural awards (Lacoste + Stevenson Architects, interior architects).
- NSW RAIA Interior Architecture Award, June 2006
- Public/Institutional Award, Interior Design Awards, 2006
- Lighting Design: Award of Commendation, IES, The Lighting Society, October, 2005
- Highly Commended, Adaptive Reuse - Corporate/Government, National Trust of Australia, 2005
Surry Hills Library - The City of Sydney starts construction of a new multi purpose building on the site at 405 Crown Street, Surry Hills in 2006. The building is to house a new library, as well as a neighbourhood centre and childcare facilities.
2007
Customs House Library is voted No. 1 of the “5 best Libraries” in Sydney by the Sydney Morning Herald (26 July 2007. Page 24, Sydney Magazine).
2008
March 2008 - the library offers free wireless Internet access to the public at all branches.
2009
The City of Sydney officially opens its magnificent new state-of-the-art Surry Hills Library and Community Centre at 405 Crown Street on 13 June 2009. More information, click here.
Branch Library Histories
City Library Customs House
There has been a Customs House in Sydney since 1800 when Governor King first established that revenue from imported goods should be collected. However, it was not until 1885 that agreement was reached to construct the building we now know today as Customs House. Opening in 1887, the building served for more than 100 years as the head office of the Collector of Customs in New South Wales. When the Commonwealth Government took over the function of customs in 1901, Customs House continued to operate as the head office of the New South Wales operations until 1988. It was finally closed on 15 June 1990.
Customs House was handed over to the City of Sydney by the Federal Government and following renovations the building opened for public use in 1997. Following the decision to relocate the City Library to Customs House a further refurbishment program was undertaken. The refurbishment transformed one of Sydney's finest colonial buildings into a dynamic public library facility and meeting space.
Customs House Library opened in June 2005. The new library extends over three floors and is open seven days a week. More about Customs House...
Glebe
Glebe Library first opened in Bridge Road in the mid-1950s as a City of Sydney Branch Library. The current Glebe Library was opened by Leichhardt Council in April 1997. It consists of a new structure added to Benledi House, a two-storey building with lattice balcony constructed in the 1900s, which was formerly the Homeopathic Hospital.
The Benledi Meeting rooms are hired for community use.
Glebe Library was transferred to the City of Sydney in May 2003.
Haymarket
Haymarket Library is located within a three storey sandstone building, originally known as Haymarket Chambers, situated on the corner of George and Hay Streets, Haymarket.
Built in 1875 for use as a commercial bank, the structure features the then popular Venetian Gothic Revival style of architecture. Constructed during an economic boom, it represents one of the finest surviving examples of carved Sydney sandstone.
In 1927, the building was subjected to a major change and the entire ground floor was altered for the purpose of modernising and maximising its retail capacity. This dramatically changed the appearance of the building.
In 1990, the Sydney City Council commissioned architects Howard Tanner and Associates Pty Ltd to redesign the building to reflect the original exterior, while creating an interior suitable for accommodating the Haymarket Branch of the City of Sydney Library. Subject to an heritage/preservation order, careful attention was paid to the detail and history of the building. The project was completed to the standards of the Burra Charter.
Between 1990-92, while the refurbishment was carried out, Haymarket Library was temporarily located at 744 George Street.
The Haymarket Library was reopened in its original premises on 1 July 1992, by City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Alderman Frank Sartor.
Kings Cross
Kings Cross Library first opened in 1959 as part of the City of Sydney Library. In 1993, the Library was transferred to South Sydney City Council. Originally located in a Sulman award winning building, it was known as the Florence Bartley Library. This building was demolished in 1997 and the Library was relocated to the Rex Hotel building in central Kings Cross. The library closed temporarily in February 2003.
In May 2003, the library once again becomes part of the City of Sydney Library Network. While a more suitable location was being investigated, the Library was temporarily relocated to the Kings Cross Activity Centre, where it provided limited services.
While renovations were being carried out on permanent library building, the Library moved to another temporary premises at 61 Darlinghurst Road. This shop-front mini-library, with a collection of 9,000 items, was officially opened on 8 December 2003 by former Lord Mayor, Lucy Turnbull.
In December 2004, the new Kings Cross Library was officially opened by Lord Mayor Clover Moore at 50-52 Darlinghurst Road. The library occupies level 1 and the mezzanine of the building, which also houses the Neighbourhood Service Centre City East.
Newtown
Located in a room above Burland Hall in King Street, Newtown Library opened in 1986 as a branch of the City of Sydney Library. The library was established following the decision by Marrickville Library to close its Newtown branch due to budgetary constraints.
City Librarian at the time, Sarah Walters, seized upon one of the only available spaces in the area to establish a new South Sydney Council library in Newtown. In 1995, Newtown Library re-opened in a larger building known as the Salvation Army Citadel. Originally built in 1883, the building underwent major renovations to house the library.
Newtown Library was tranferred to the City of Sydney in February 2004.
Surry Hills 
Surry Hills Library opened in 1957 as a branch of the City of Sydney Library. In 1993, the Library was transferred to South Sydney City Council following local government boundary changes. The library was refurbished in 2001.
Surry Hills Library was transferred back to the City of Sydney in February 2004. The Library is part of a village community in a residential area with terrace style houses and a well established shopping area. The library is well used by families with small children and a toy library service is available.
Surry Hills Library closed its doors on 30 September 2006. Now complete the new four level community building houses a new library, a 26-place childcare facility and a dedicated neighbourhood centre.
Sydney Stories: Surry Hills Branch Library & Neighbourhood Centre online booklet.
Ultimo 
A branch of the City of Sydney Library, Ultimo Library opens in the Sid Fegan Centre in 1989 and closes during the early 1990s during construction of a new library and community centre.
Ultimo Library re-opens in 1996, as part of the Ultimo Community Centre.
Waterloo
Originally a branch of the City of Sydney Library, Waterloo Library was established in 1972 on the ground floor of the Waterloo Town Hall.
In 1993, the Library was transferred to South Sydney City Council following local government boundary changes. In 1996 Waterloo Library was refurbished and was extended to the first floor of the Waterloo Town Hall.
In 2004, Waterloo Library once again became part of the City of Sydney Library Network.
Recommended Further Reading
- Palaysa, Y. (1980), City of Sydney Public Library - History and Development of a Municipal Library
- Norman, L. G., (1965), A History of the City of Sydney Public Library, 2nd edition, Sydney, City of Sydney Public Library.
