Badger-Wesson Collection black and white 1965-1975. Copyright Pam Baragwanath.

Name: Alexandra Free Library  

Address: Grant Street, Alexandra

Local Government area: Murrindindi

Institute established: 1877

Date of Present Building:1883 

Building succession number:1

Current use: Library

Social History:

Special aspects: When the Alexandra  Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library was opened in June, 1883, costing 467 pounds, it was “despite those persons who looked upon the adventure as altogether too advanced for an outside township”. “A grand procession, including a variety of colourful personalities in fancy dress preceded the opening and the historic event was followed by Richardson’s Show, a Concert in the Town Hall and a Grand Ball”. By December that year a paid librarian was in attendance and the library had 635 volumes, periodicals and daily and weekly newspapers. A billiard room was added in 1892 and the Reading Room housed a set of Encyclopedia Brittanica and many glass cases with various geological and other specimens as well as beautiful lamps. Newspapers were spread out on large leather covered tables and people helped themselves to books on an honour system. In 1951 the Free Library Service Board set up funds for a regional library service and the library became known as the Upper Goulburn Regional Library. The Library operates efficiently as the headquarters for the region and was renamed after council amalgamations in approximately 1996. It is now referred as Murrindindi Library.

Reference: A brief history of Alexandra Library. In Alexandra Standard. (1883). May, June, July, December.

Note: for further information see:

Mechanics' Institutes Resource Centre (MIRC)  List of holdings 

and  Prahran Mechanics' Institute Library catalogue www.pmi.net.au