Text and photos Margi B
We met in the courtyard of the State Library before being taken on a most interesting tour of the rooms and the history of this Melbourne icon. Our very knowledgeable guide Isabel took us to the beautifully restored Queens Hall. This was the original reading room of the library which was established and nurtured by Redmond Barry.
After visiting the other main rooms of the library we said goodbye to Isabel, had a coffee at Mr Tulk cafe and walked down Swanston St to Collins St and a totally different library experience. The Atheneum is a private subscription library where staff know your name and make you welcome. Fiona gave us a history of her library, which is older than the State Library, and showed us through the stunning space.
After lingering over the wonderful photos in the foyer we walked down to St Collins Place for a convivial lunch. Another informative and enjoyable Little Gem. A second tour is happening in September.
