The Alexander Library Building, is located in the

Cultural Centre A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run. Asia * Cen ...

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Western Australia. It was named after Western Australian historian and former member of the Library Board,

Fred Alexander Frederick Beasley Alexander (August 14, 1880 – March 3, 1969) was an American tennis player in the early 20th century. He won the singles title at the 1908 Australasian Championships and six double titles at Grand Slam events. Career In 1908, ...

. It houses the

State Library of Western Australia The State Library of Western Australia is a research, education, reference and public lending library located in the Perth Cultural Centre in Perth, Western Australia. It is a portfolio agency of the Western Australia Department of Culture and t ...

, the

J S Battye Library The J S Battye Library (more properly known as the J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History) is an arm of the State Library of Western Australia. It stores much of the state's historical records and original publications including books, ...

, and the State Records Office, in the Perth Cultural Precinct in Northbridge. The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts. It was completed and opened in 1985. It has been changed internally over time, however the basic structure remains.

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 a unique streetscape, one of the most mixed in this area of the

Perth central business district Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is p ...

– 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

References

External links

State Library of Western Australia

State Records Office

Department of Culture and Arts
{{Authority control Libraries established in 1985 1985 establishments in Australia Libraries in Perth, Western Australia Perth Cultural Centre