Hidden secret of Melbourne: Athenaeum Library

Above the trundling trams, ever-present cars and the comings and goings of bikes and pedestrians on Collins St sits a venue that has been there since Melbourne’s beginnings.

The Athenaeum Library, “a quiet, space in the heart of the city,” is the oldest library in Victoria and “one of Melbourne’s better kept secrets”, according to librarian James Baker, who has worked there for more than a decade.

Opened as a mechanics’ institute in 1839, just four years after Melbourne was founded, the library has been owned and controlled by its members ever since.

“But we’re a lot more than that. We have a cultural program that includes music performances, author talks, book launches – all sorts of things like that.”

“In the past we had an art gallery, and we still have some artwork related to that, including an Arthur Streeton, The Ruins of Peronne.”

Behind the neoclassical façade of its Collins St address – whose 1880s renovation saw a statue of namesake goddess Athena installed – the library exudes an atmosphere of sanctuary due to its space, quiet and old-world charm.

Tables and chairs sit in front of large windows looking out onto the foliage of plane trees and the Regent Theatre opposite.

Original timber bookcases, supplemented with more recently made shelves modelled on them line the high-ceilinged room, with a large, curved 1920s librarians’ desk sitting at the centre of it.

Other historical features include a mermaid-themed brass wall lamp, which once ran on oil, a suggestion book dating back to 1871, a brass sign advertising membership for one guinea a year, and the 1930s lift – its engine recently replaced – said to be the oldest working lift in Melbourne.

At the same time, with its current collections, colourful artwork and flyers for coming events, the library conveys a contemporary atmosphere.

On display you might find a new release by best-selling author Di Morrissey and a travel guide to Southeast Asia near a copy of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis.

“We do try and keep as diverse a collection as possible while trying also to make sure we’re meeting the tastes and interests of our members,” Mr Baker said.

The library was particularly “strong” on biography and crime fiction and had separate sub-genres of historical and romance fiction, horror and sci fi-fantasy, he said.

It also stocked DVDs.

The librarian said staff try to make the room as welcoming and relaxing and the resources as useful as possible.

While anyone can have a quick look around, to settle into the comfy chairs and make use of the desks and the tea and coffee station you need to take out a membership.

For $99 a year – $89 concession and $30 for kids – that entitles you to six-day-a- week access, free cultural events and borrowing up to 30 books at a time.

“We do encourage people to come up and check out the space because we are one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets,” Mr Baker said.

“Actually, too well kept for our liking.” •