Library’s dramatic story

WHEN Geelong’s City fathers appointed Edward Purdue as the first librarian of the town’s first Free Library in 1876 they had little idea what they were letting themselves in for.

Purdue had been one of 27 applicants received by the town council in early 1876 for the position of librarian, and he had been present when the library opened in September of that year.

But two years later Purdue had disappeared, abandoning his job and his wife, and the council found that some library funds had also disappeared.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Purdue should attend a talk and theatrically-inspired presentation being given at the Geelong City Library at 6.30pm on April 23, with bookings essential for the free evening.

Purdue’s full story has been brought to light through the research of Rev Dr Coralie Jenkin, a Uniting Church minister, who will present the evening.

Parts of the talk will be dramatised by her assistant, Ben Mitchell, part of the Theatre of the Winged Unicorn Company at Ceres and who trained in acting in London.

Of course, the Geelong Free Library continued to operate at its Moorabool St site despite the departure of Purdue.

The building had been built for the Geelong Chamber of Commerce in 1858, but the chamber had difficulty financing the building and in 1875 it was sold.

The successful bidder was Charles Ibbotson, who offered it to the town council for use as a library. By the 1890s the Free Library had also become home to another institution, Geelong’s first museum. The museum occupied a large upstairs room and was opened in 1896.

The museum’s collection included a geological display and a display of native weapons.

Sadly the library building was sold and demolished in 1955 to make way for a six-storey modern office block for the Commercial Union insurance company.

A new purpose-built library was established next to the Geelong Art Gallery and the Geelong Historical Records Centre was built above the original library.

Today the city library and the Geelong Heritage Centre are housed in the stunning dome building which has won awards for its design. Contact peterjohnbegg@gmail.com

Geelong’s first free library was part of an impressive streetscape that included the State Savings Bank and the Victoria Hotel. Inset: Edward Purdue, the first librarian.

An artist’s impression of the former Geelong Chamber of Commerce building after it opened as a free library.