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2025-06-25T04:39:25Z

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{{Use Australian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Alexander Library Building
| status = complete
| image = Alexander Library front entrance.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Front entrance of Alexander Library Building
| map_type =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| relief =
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| building_type = Library
| architectural_style =
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| cost = {{AUD|37.6M|link=yes}}
| ren_cost =
| client =
| owner =
| current_tenants = {{ubli
|[[State Library of Western Australia]]
|[[State Records Office of Western Australia|State Records Office]]
}}
| landlord = [[Government of Western Australia]]
| location = Between James Street Mall and Francis Street, Perth
| address = 25 Francis Street, Perth
| location_town = [[Perth]]
| location_country = Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|-31.948822|115.860565|region:AU|display=inline}}
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date = 1982
| completion_date = 1985
| opened_date = {{start date and age |18 June 1985 |06 |18|df=y}}<ref name="wyn25">{{cite news |last=Wynne |first=Emma |date=2025-06-24 |title=Alexander Library building celebrates 40 years as a Perth icon |work=ABC News |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-24/perth-alexander-library-building-celebrates-40-years/105444172 |access-date=2025-06-25 }}</ref>
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| architecture_firm = Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol
| structural_engineer = Norman, Disney and Young
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The '''Alexander Library Building''' is located in the [[Perth Cultural Centre|Cultural Centre]] of [[Perth]], Western Australia.

It was named after Western Australian historian and former member of the Library Board, [[Fred Alexander (historian)|Fred Alexander]].<ref name="wyn25" /><ref>{{Citation | author1=Alexander, Fred | title=Library Board collection | publication-date=1976 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32319573 | accessdate=17 April 2017 }}</ref>

It houses the [[State Library of Western Australia]], the [[J S Battye Library]],<ref>{{Citation | title=J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History. -along with the other library services run by the Library Board of Western Australia has moved into the new Alexander Library Building which was officially opened on 18 June, 1985- | journal=Archives and Manuscripts | publication-date=November 1986 | volume=14 | issue=2 | pages=–111–128 | issn=0157-6895 }}</ref> and the [[State Records Office of Western Australia|State Records Office]], in the Perth Cultural Precinct.

The building falls under the responsibility of the Western Australian government Department of Culture and Arts. It was completed and opened in 1985.<ref>{{Citation | title=The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985 | publisher=n.p | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36660645 | accessdate=17 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Library Board of Western Australia | title=The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985 | publication-date=1985 | publisher=State Library Service of Western Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19156943 | accessdate=17 April 2017 }}</ref>

It has been changed internally over time, however the basic structure remains.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Library and Information Service of Western Australia | title=How to find your way around the Alexander Library building | publication-date=1990 | publisher=LISWA | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/30261249 | accessdate=17 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=The Alexander Library Building : Perth Cultural Centre. Opened 18 June 1985 | publisher=n.p | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36660645 | accessdate=17 April 2017 }}</ref>

==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, Northbridge|James Street]] and Francis Street. The street had a unique streetscape, one of the most mixed in this area of the [[Perth central business district]]{{snd}}which was all removed in the construction of the new library building.{{fact|date=July 2013}}

Only one building is commemorated on the Alexander Library Building structure{{snd}}the [[Perth Central Baptist Church|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 [[Western Australia Post Office Directory|Wise's Directories]] for the earlier decades.

==Plaques at entrance==
[[Image:Alexander library 2.jpg|thumb|View from the steps on James Street]]

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

==References==
{{Reflist |30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/ State Library of Western Australia]
* [http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/ State Records Office]
* [http://www.dca.wa.gov.au/ Department of Culture and Arts]

{{Perth Cultural Centre}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Libraries established in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Libraries in Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Perth Cultural Centre]]

Alexander Library Building - Revision history

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