Alexander Library Building

Alexander Library Building
Front entrance of Alexander Library Building
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Library
Location	Between James Street Mall and Francis Street Perth
Address	25 Francis Street, Perth
Town or city	Perth
Country	Australia
Coordinates
Current tenants	State Library of Western Australia State Records Office
Construction started	1982
Completed	1985
Opened	18 June 1985
Cost	A$37.6 million
Landlord	Government of Western Australia
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol
Structural engineer	Norman, Disney and Young

The Alexander Library Building, in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia, houses the State Library of Western Australia, the J S Battye Library, and the State Records Office, in the Perth Cultural Precinct in Northbridge in Perth, Western Australia. The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts.

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 one of the most mixed and unique streetscapes in this area of Perth – 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

view from the steps on James Street

• 30 November 1979 – Commencement of Construction
• 18 June 1985 – Opening of Building

External links

• State Library of Western Australia
• State Records Office
• Department of Culture and Arts