The Age,, ‘Going back to the future?', p.A14.Ĭopy also held in Local history file entitled ‘Melbourne (Vic.) Libraries. He raised concerns about what will happen to the ‘historic sculptures' and the remaining healthy lilly-pilly and paperbark trees Forecourt'.īrief letter from Jim Sinatra, Professor of landscape architecture, RMIT, in response to Helen Tait's letter (30/4) about the redesign of the forecourt. The Age,, ‘Unanswered questions', p.A14.įamily History & Newspaper Room - on microfilm.Ĭopy also held in Local History File entitled ‘Melbourne (Vic.) Libraries. Forecourt'.īrief letter from Helen Tait, Chief Executive Officer, State Library of Victoria, regarding the deteriorating condition of the Library forecourt Copy also held in Local History File entitled ‘Melbourne (Vic.) Libraries. The Age, 30 April 1997, ‘Rolling out the green carpet', p.A20.įamily History & Newspaper Room - on microfilm. The City of Melbourne is working with the State Library to develop a design to improve the appearance of the forecourt bounded by Swanston, La Trobe and Little Lonsdale Streets. Family History & Newspaper Room - on microfilm. The Age, 29 April 1997, ‘The dirt on the library lawn', Metro section, p.C3.

The forecourt underwent another refurbishment in 1998.įor information about the statues in the forecourt, see Statues and murals.Įngraving of proposed Melbourne Public Library 1865, H33925 The alterations in 1939 included the diagonal flights of steps, wing walls and edging, the terracing of the lawn and the formal plantings of lilly pillies and melaleuca styphelioides to a design by Public Works Department architect, Percy Everett.

Gasoliers were installed in the forecourt either side of Sir Redmond Barry in 1891, by F. During the mid 1870s the planting of the forecourt was re-planned.

The bronze lions were installed in the 1860s. The first Library trustees fenced off the land around the Library and it remained closed until the redesign of the site in late 1938. Joseph Reed's original design of a fountain with mermaids spouting water into a pool was not realized. Since the Library opened in 1856, the forecourt has been altered a number of times, not without public outcry. The forecourt spans the full width of the block from Little Lonsdale Street to La Trobe Street.

Edit trees in chief architect library