Back to photostream

Mortlock Library

2012 SAPF Accepted - Open Projected

9/10 Open Projected, April 2012, Port Adelaide CC

 

The building now known as the Mortlock Wing was opened on 18 December 1884 as a Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery for the colony of South Australia with 23,000 books and a staff of three.

Construction of the building took over 18 years to complete after the initial foundations were laid in 1866.

The foundation stone was laid on 7 November 1879 by Sir William Jervois and the building was constructed by Brown and Thompson at a total cost of £43,897.

The building is French Renaissance in style with a mansard roof. The walls are constructed of brick with Sydney freestone facings with decorations in the darker shade of Manoora stone.

The interior has two galleries, the first supported by masonry columns, and the second by cast iron brackets. The balconies feature wrought iron balustrading ornamented with gold while the glass-domed roof allows the chamber to be lit with natural light. Two of the original gas "sunburner" lamps survive in the office space located on the second floor at the southern end.(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Library_of_South_Australia)

 

3 photos, bracketed and processed in Photomatix

16,730 views
19 faves
23 comments
Uploaded on April 21, 2012
Taken on January 17, 2012