Whangarei Public Library, Reading Rooms and Municipal Chambers Designed by Edward Bartley

The new Municipal Building & Pulblic Library designed by Edward Bartley SCCSC-510 1903

In 1902 the state of the Post Office and Council offices on Bank St were under discussion in Whangarei. The make-shift appearance of these public premises was felt to be inconsistent with the town's progress, as well as being unsatisfactory for their intended purpose. The County Council offices were still the original premises erected in 1878.[i]

Northern Advocate 19 June 1902

The town was more than fifty years old. Facilities needed to be improved. Yet the Borough Council had several other calls on its resources.

The urgent need for drainage in the town would have to be met from borrowed funds. 

Young people had no means to self improvement without access to library or reading room facilities; fire service and fire fighting equipment required purpose built premises; postal services, county and borough offices were all inadequately housed.

At first it was suggested that all of these accommodation issues could be resolved in a single stroke, by a brick building serving as headquarters for all these borough services.[ii] That proposal was both expensive and unrealistic for the size of the Bank St site.  It would require further borrowing for land purchase and construction.

There was another snag. County Council owned the land. Any development would have to wait until the legalities of ownership of any improvements were ironed out.

Northern Advocate 6 September 1902

At the public meeting held on 8 September the views of the ratepayers were clearly expressed. The Mayor’s proposal for a 4 storey building, housing all services, had no support.

The gathering heard from other councillors. Endowment money was available from the Cummings estate, specifically set aside for library facilities.

There was no objection to dual- use office facilities housing both county and borough councils.

The meeting was virtually unanimous in its support for premises jointly owned and operated, provided library and reading room were included.[iii]

Northern Advocate 13 September 1902

In October 1902 Counsellors inspected plans by Edward Bartley. [iv]There were obvious financial restrictions uppermost in their minds. Bartley’s plans satisfied those by limiting the building to two stories, in brick construction as specified.

After some discussion it was agreed that the ground floor position of the library and reading room was the best. Council meeting rooms and offices were to occupy the first floor.

Affairs moved quickly after that point. The plans were signed off and tenders called for by the end of October.[v]

NZ Herald 27 October 1902

The Municipal Offices and Public Library were completed and opened in July 1903.

The building as it is today Image BFA 2014

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[i] Northern Advocate 11 September 1902

[ii] Ibid 28 July 1902 report of Borough Council Meeting

[iii] Ibid 11 September 1902

[iv] Ibid 10 October 1902

[v] NZ Herald 27 October 1902

Edward Bartley - Whangarei Hospital and Nurses Home

In the late 1880’s Whangarei had no general hospital. The district had a sparse and widespread population.

People were unwilling to seek medical attention for illness because if they needed hospital care they would be sent to Auckland. Travelling times and rough conditions could prove fatal- taking people away from their family and homes. Sending patients away was expensive for the local council too. They were billed the full cost of transport and care for ailing residents - £800 in 1899.

A cottage home for aged poor people opened in February 1900. Almost immediately there was talk of extending the cottage to make a hospital ward.

About this time the Auckland based architect Edward Bartley was in Whangarei, consulting with a client over a commercial building design for Bank St. He had considerable experience in the design of medical facilities, as he was architect to the Auckland District Hospital and Charitable Aid board.

Mr Bartley met the local MP Mr Thompson and inspected the Old People’s Home. He advised that an add-on there was not a satisfactory solution in the long term.

Urging the MP to approach the Government for funding, Bartley offered to design a suitable complex free of charge. He suggested a nurses’ home and boiler house be included in their plans.

The need was so urgent that he also offered to supervise the construction for free and donate to the subscription fund immediately.

This generosity and enthusiasm galvanised the district into action.

A ladies committee took charge of fund raising. Council applied for- and eventually got- a Government subsidy of thirty shillings for every pound raised toward the project, up to a £1000 limit. Mr Keyte put in the successful tender for the construction and building got underway.

When the complex opened in April 1901, the Government Inspector of Hospitals, Dr McGregor, was quoted in The Northern Advocate, calling it “the best hospital, considering the cost, in New Zealand.”

The Hospital was originally designed for a population of 10,000 people. At the time it was proposed, critics said it was a white elephant that would take 10 years to fill. In fact, it was an asset right from the start, saving lives across the region.