Child with picture books in junior area, Glen Waverley Library, 112 Kingsway, 1976
The Glen Waverley Library opened on Monday 15th March 1976. Part the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Service, the library was seen as “supplementing” the service provided by the Mount Waverley branch for Waverley City residents. The initial stock included about 35,000 books, managed by “a total regular staff of fifteen under the charge of Branch Librarian, Mr. Tim Bruwer (sic).” Its opening hours were 11am to 9pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am to noon on Saturdays. (1)
Waverley’s Town Clerk, Mr Colin Bock, said the building and furnishings cost about $650,000. With “book stock and other incidentals” the cost was set at $750,000. (2) Both the opening date and costs were a far cry from earlier estimates. In 1972 Cr Peter Davies (Chairman of the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Committee) proposed a March 1974 opening date and estimated the cost would to be about $300,000. (3) Waverley Council accepted a building tender of $478,849 in August 1974. (4) Delays in decision making had occurred at a time of rising inflation, leading to the blow outs.
In 1972 Cr Davies noted that the “Mount Waverley branch is designed for 35,000 to 40,000 persons” and that the “Glen Waverley library should be capable of serving 50,000 persons.” It was reported that a future Wheelers Hill branch would serve a similar population to Mount Waverley, ultimately giving facilities for 130,000 people. (3)
A special tribute was given at the the library's official opening in April 1976. Mayor Cr Brian Perry thanked the late chief librarian of the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Service, Mr Tom Woodrow, for his "great depth of vision." (5)
See locale on Google Maps.
Image source: MPLS
Sources:
1. Press release - Glen Waverley Library opening soon, 13 February 1976
2. $750,000 library complete: March opening likely, Waverley Gazette, 28 January 1976
3. 1974 is the library target, Waverley Progress, 31 October 1972
4. Library Tender, Chadstone Progress, 31 August 1974
5. Tributes to Tom Woodrow at library opening, Progress, 14 April 1974
Child with picture books in junior area, Glen Waverley Library, 112 Kingsway, 1976
The Glen Waverley Library opened on Monday 15th March 1976. Part the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Service, the library was seen as “supplementing” the service provided by the Mount Waverley branch for Waverley City residents. The initial stock included about 35,000 books, managed by “a total regular staff of fifteen under the charge of Branch Librarian, Mr. Tim Bruwer (sic).” Its opening hours were 11am to 9pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9.30am to noon on Saturdays. (1)
Waverley’s Town Clerk, Mr Colin Bock, said the building and furnishings cost about $650,000. With “book stock and other incidentals” the cost was set at $750,000. (2) Both the opening date and costs were a far cry from earlier estimates. In 1972 Cr Peter Davies (Chairman of the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Committee) proposed a March 1974 opening date and estimated the cost would to be about $300,000. (3) Waverley Council accepted a building tender of $478,849 in August 1974. (4) Delays in decision making had occurred at a time of rising inflation, leading to the blow outs.
In 1972 Cr Davies noted that the “Mount Waverley branch is designed for 35,000 to 40,000 persons” and that the “Glen Waverley library should be capable of serving 50,000 persons.” It was reported that a future Wheelers Hill branch would serve a similar population to Mount Waverley, ultimately giving facilities for 130,000 people. (3)
A special tribute was given at the the library's official opening in April 1976. Mayor Cr Brian Perry thanked the late chief librarian of the Camberwell-Waverley Regional Library Service, Mr Tom Woodrow, for his "great depth of vision." (5)
See locale on Google Maps.
Image source: MPLS
Sources:
1. Press release - Glen Waverley Library opening soon, 13 February 1976
2. $750,000 library complete: March opening likely, Waverley Gazette, 28 January 1976
3. 1974 is the library target, Waverley Progress, 31 October 1972
4. Library Tender, Chadstone Progress, 31 August 1974
5. Tributes to Tom Woodrow at library opening, Progress, 14 April 1974