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 in Whangarei, Northland - Bentley's Pharmacy

Image from Postcard collection, Bartley Family Archive

Edward Bartley was at the peak of his career in the late 1890’s and into the first decade of the Twentieth century.

In early 1899 he came to Whangarei where he was engaged for Mr Bentley, whose premises had been one of several destroyed in a catastrophic fire. 

NZHerald 30 Jan 1899

Edward Bartley was experienced as an insurance assessor as well as an architect. Both the land owner, Mr Mann and Mr Bentley were fully insured. A full clearance was ordered and a new design drawn up for the site in Bank St, next to the BNZ building. In discussion with his client, another fire resistant brick building was decided upon. 

Tenders were called within days of the fire.

Northern Advocate 28 January 1899

 There was keen interest from both Auckland and Northland builders. Building began promptly in March of that year.

Northern Advocate 25 February 1899

Bentley was a pharmacist and stationer. The two storey building which opened in September 1899 showed a sophisticated frontage to Bank St. The detailing in Portland cement and plate glass windows were complemented by interior fittings which reflected Bartley’s long experience in designing for retail pharmacies in Queen St, Auckland.

Designing in the Classical idiom for which he was well known, Bartley placed three arches above the verandah line, with fluted columns delineating the outer edges of the facade.

Premises were let to a dental practice on the upper floor, which were reached by a separate entrance and ornamented stairway from Bank St. Additional space on the ground floor was occupied by medical practitioners, accessed through the pharmacy.

In total, the enterprise offered Whangarei residents a modern, purpose-built medical centre.

Bank St, image from Postcard collection Bartley Family Archive