Originally, chemist A. J. Dodd’s lending library of 1000 books provided the reading matter for the town.
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Then, on October 31, 1877, a School of Arts started in the former post office building (site of the present Town Hall) and charged members of the Public Library and Reading Room, 1/- a month.
However, interest waned and it was not until 1886 that firm attempts were made to resurrect the School of Arts.
Henry Kendrick, supervised by Alex Hutchison, built this School of Arts and the £310 building was opened by Sir Henry Parkes in 1887.
The subscription was set at 5/- and “… Ald Flanders was appointed librarian and custodian in consideration of his occupancy of the building as a tailor’s shop. At the end of the year the subscription list was 127.
“Next October, the committee faced the momentous question of card playing, introduced by a motion of which notice was given by Mr Healey ‘that card playing be allowed in the School of Arts’.
“After a prolonged debate the vote was in the affirmative. This proved the forerunner of remarkable development on the social side, one result being the installation of the first billiard table on October 1, 1891 at a cost of £55.
“Other additions followed, including increased facilities for games and reading, until, in the reconstruction of 1920, a new billiard-room, large and luxurious with three tables was provided in addition to generous accommodation for cards, draughts, chess and other games.
“This policy perhaps more than anything else has made the School of Arts the club of Glen Innes, and the natural social centre for people…
“In the year ending June 30, 1922, over 13,000 books were issued and over 700 persons made use of the institution.
“This has necessitated the provision of greatly increased accommodation and on January 9, 1920 additions and improvements to a value of £3385, providing for a reading room, library, ladies’ room, and recreation room….” – from Sommerlad’s Land of the Beardies, 1922.
By 1967, with the advent of the Municipal and Severn Shire Library (originally Apex Children’s Library) clubs and hotels installing billiard tables etc, use again waned and it closed in 1967 and the building now houses our valuable Community Centre.
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