31-35 Henry St, Notre Dame University ND17 - St Teresa's Library - formerly part of Bateman Buildings
Architecture- a corrugated iron enclosed warehouse in the Bateman’s complex. It was redeveloped by architect, Marcus Collins c 1994.
Lot 68 was originally owned by W. M. Dixon (1829-1837) then transferred to J Ougden (1855-1858), then James Gallop (1859-1879). John Bateman bought the land next to it (Lots 69-72) in 1876 so probably purchased this land soon after- and it became part of the Bateman Buildings, which occupied both sides of Mouat St through to Henry St.
In 1931 it is shown as a courtyard space on a Fire and Accident Underwriters Association map. A warehouse was constructed there in the 1960s.
The interior of the St Teresa’s library was first adapted from its 1960’s warehouse shell to be Notre Dame University’s main Library in 1994.
The existing warehouse, in sound structural condition, was simply retained, painted, carpeted and furnished, leaving much of the original fabric intact. Essentially a warehouse with books, the library was completed for less than a tenth of the usual tertiary library costs. (reference below)
The development of the University Library – St Teresa’s Library – which became the centre of undergraduate academic life and endeavour. This library was developed from a raw corrugated iron enclosed warehouse in the Bateman’s complex. It was given beauty and substance by the architect, Marcus Collins, such that it became a show-piece for the University. (It was formally awarded the highest honours for architecture in Western Australia!) The foundation leaders of this library were Sister Carolyn McSwiney IBVM, Bruce Bott, Alison Kershaw, Bob Hoffman, and later, Stephen McVey. Archbishop Hickey made a special one-off cash donation of $250,000 from the Archdiocese to construct the initial phase of this Library. A major collection was purchased (for US$1 million) from the long established and recently closed St Teresa’s College in Minnesota in the US. The identification of this 170,000 volume collection and the recommendation to purchase it came from the NDUS Librarian. The Italian community in Perth undertook to raise funds to help meet the acquisition cost. (reference below)
St Teresa's Library supports the programs of the Schools of Arts & Science, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery and Philosophy & Theology.
A Heritage Assessment was prepared in 2010 by Philip Griffiths Architects and redevelopment was finished in 2011 by Builder W Fairweather & Son Pty Ltd and MCDF Architects:
The 2011 internal fit out of the library, including construction of a mezzanine floor together with other works including CGI ceilings and air-conditioning, bringing to fruition, the original intended design for the Library. The works increased the library area by 1200 m² (reference)
References: “Town and gown concordat?” Notre Dame and the re-making of the City of Fremantle, 18 June 2018, Hannah Lewi, Andrew Murray, Publisher, Australasian Urban History Planning History Group (reference)
and From the Founding and Establishment of Notre Dame, 1986-2014 by Peter Tannock 2014
