The Swan River Mechanics' Institute was the Swan River Colony's first cultural centre, established on 21 January 1851. In time it was to house an extensive and well-used subscription library and a nat
Pre-1914 bookplate
Looking west along Hay Street, on the left is the 1851 building. The Perth Town Hall (built 1867) is in the distant right and appears to be under construction. The building in the centre is the Freemason's Lodge (1866) which later became the first premises of the R&I Bank.
The new Institute building, c. 1900
Council House, Perth
Videos
Council House is a 13-storey office building on St Georges Terrace in Perth, Western Australia. Located beside Stirling Gardens and Government House in the city's central business district, the 49.8-m
Swan River Mechanics' Institute
…City of Perth Library. Soon after, its subscription library was replaced by a free lending library. The City of Perth Library was established in the Council House in 1963 and remained there until 1995. The Perth Literary Institute building was demolished sometime in the 1970s and the site now includes the Perth…
Council House
The old Public Offices which stood on the site
Council House in 2023, viewed from St Georges Terrace
The building's distinctive sunbreakers were restored as part of the refurbishment.