Part Two – post 1920s - Newcastle City Council

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A 1933 survey of Australia libraries led to the 1935 Munn-Pitt Report that recommended the establishment of a system of free public libraries provided by local councils out of rate revenue supported by the State government and staffed by trained librarians. This led to the formation of the Free Library Movement to advance the recommendations and then the passing of the Library Act of 1939, which enabled councils to set up such libraries. 71 As noted, Newcastle members of the Free Library Movement were active in working towards a cultural centre for Newcastle. When the cultural centre opened another benefactor handed over his valuable personal collection to the library. Wilfred Goold, a Newcastle businessman, had devoted the leisure hours of 30 years of his life to the study and recording of Newcastle’s early history. He was a founder of the Newcastle Historical Society and at the time ‘Newcastle’s foremost historian’. In 1953, when he was made a fellow of the Royal Australian Historical Society, he was the only person outside the Sydney area to receive the honour. His collection included maps, photos, books, documents and a number of artefacts. A priceless item, and one that merits the utmost veneration, was the original commission signed by Governor King for the foundation of the settlement at Newcastle. 72 By 1966 the lending section of the library had been shifted to the old School of Arts building in Hunter Street. The vacated space was immediately taken for the local history collection. The reference library was also short of space. The idea was put forward that the city library should occupy the entire building (with the local history section having an entire floor) and the conservatorium and art gallery should be housed in independent facilities. 73 20.4 Performing Arts 21 Ceremony and Celebration Figure 37: The Goold Building A recent facility provided by Newcastle City Council as a studio for rehearsals for the local performing arts industry is the hall in Auckland Street adjoining the former Nesca House. This building was at first a meeting hall for the Oddfellows Association, and in the mid-20 th century, the furniture showrooms of the Goold family business. Performing Arts Newcastle hold workshops, forums and other activities here that promote artistic talents within the Newcastle community. The balcony of City Hall is traditionally used to introduce distinguished visitors to the community and Civic Park is a special place for the community to gather on these 71 The Australian Encyclopaedia Volume 4 The Grolier Society of Australia 1977 p. 6, 7 72 Newcastle Morning Herald 22 October 1957 73 Newcastle Morning Herald, Leader, 14 October 1968 Newcastle Civic and Cultural Precinct History ~ Cynthia Hunter ~ January 2003 page 48
occasions. Just two years after the cultural centre opened Princess Alexandra visited Newcastle and was welcomed in this manner. Figure 38: Community welcome extended to Princess Alexandra in Civic Park in 1959 Opening the cultural centre and improving the Civic Park land was accompanied by the establishment of Mattara, an annual spring festival promoting Newcastle’s cultural and commercial life. In the first year 1961 an 18-day carnival of frolic, pageantry and demonstration was planned, which would extend a hand of friendship or Mattara (in Aboriginal dialect) to visitors and showcase the city to a wide audience. The headquarters of Mattara was Civic Park, ‘hub of the city’s future Civic Square now in course of development’. On opening night a parade from Newcastle Beach to Civic Park preceded the launching ceremony and an outdoor concert. The event involved all forms of cultural expression. Performances and an art exhibition were focused in Civic Park. The winning design for a Civic Park fountain was announced. 40,000 people lined the route of the procession that year, which involved 1,300 participants. In following years the numbers grew. Community support in organisation and participation was willingly forthcoming. In 1983 the event was held over 8 days and more than 130,000 visitors attended. In succeeding years, balancing cultural and commercial participation in Mattara led to many debates. A downside to commercialism such as show rides in Civic Park was the damage done to the park, particularly the lawns. A downside to too many cultural events was limited appeal. Maintaining Mattara’s cultural base has been of paramount importance as well as providing interest for as wide a group of Newcastle people as possible. 22 1960s Civic Park Civic Fountain Staged landscape improvements for Civic Park began in the 1960s when work started on the sandstone walls surrounding a RAAF memorial grove near the Laman/Darby Streets corner. The wall was continued along Laman Street and was completed about 1968. In early 1961 council called for designs for a fountain for Civic Park and the proposal submitted by Margaret Hinder of Sydney was selected in September. The work of building the fountain infrastructure commenced in 1965, the still-water pool designed Newcastle Civic and Cultural Precinct History ~ Cynthia Hunter ~ January 2003 page 49
Page 1 and 2: We are building a civic monument se
Page 3 and 4: In the 1980s it became apparent tha
Page 5 and 6: 14 Civic Park - acquiring the land
Page 7 and 8: the Electric Supply Department. Chr
Page 9 and 10: 17 Civic precinct development in th
Page 11 and 12: walkway and flight of stairs links
Page 13 and 14: Figure 36: 1960s aerial view of the
Page 15 and 16: After 1957, the Cultural Centre Wom
Page 17 and 18: ooks but because they should have t
Page 19: on purchases by the director. Visit
Page 23 and 24: Reaction from the community was var
Page 25 and 26: In 1909, two of Frederick Ash’s s
Page 27 and 28: in opposing light in a lengthy deba
Page 29 and 30: financier and lessee. Many jobs wou
Page 31 and 32: Stage Two was planned to be the hot
Page 33 and 34: (Part of the civic site is about 20
Page 35 and 36: 30 1992 Civic Prospectus In June 19
Page 37 and 38: complex was completed. A solicitor,
Page 39 and 40: 33 Acknowledgment of Sources Books:
Page 41 and 42: Black Diamond Hotel (right). Part o
Page 43: 1986 Figure 44 Illustration of the

Part Two – post 1920s - Newcastle City Council

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