Thornbury Library

On 28th July 1955, a new branch for Northcote City Council was opened by Mayor Cr. Len Hales at 64 Clyde Street Thornbury. It was the first Victorian city to open a new purpose built second branch library. It was a community centre library with an infant centre and playgroup. Mr. A. E. McMicken, secretary of the Library Association said; ‘Instead of wasting great sums on central libraries we must have smaller branches at strategic points’, and he went on to congratulate the City of Northcote. Melbourne’s chief librarian, Mr. A. A. McCallum, said, ‘I, of course, regard a library as an investment.’ Of the new Clyde Street library, he said, ‘This is one of the most attractive libraries I have seen in Australia. It is a fitting subject for civic pride.’  The city engineers department designed the building and made the fittings in the council workshop. Cr. Bird thanked the library staff, in particular, Mr. Alan Douglas Gillies and his chief assistant Miss Myrtle Fletcher. 

 

In 1986, there was a call to upgrade the facilities as the space did not keep up with the needs of public libraries. The City of Northcote planned to add a multi-use games court, landscaping and a car park. After Amalgamation of 1994, the Thornbury branch was not keeping performing as well as the other branches and a decision was made for the library to move out of the space. This happened in December 1997 and the toy library moved in.  It remained a Maternal Child Health Centre. It is now SPAN Community house.

Clyde St grant for fun and games (1986, April 9). Northcote Leader, p. 5.

 

Library threatened (1997, August 21). Northcote Leader, p. 1. 

 

We make history as branch library opens (1955, August 3). Northcote Leader, p. 3.