Looking back at libraries in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton - Part 2

2023 marks the 30^th year that the Central Library has been operating from our current location in Garden Place. We thought it would be interesting to look back at the history of our town and city libraries.

After the collapse of the Hamilton Institute in 1874 people rallied to find ways of fulfilling their need for reading and information.

Hamilton Literacy Association and Mr Trewheelar’s shop

In 1876 some citizens formed the Hamilton Literacy Association to try and replace the Institute. It was based in a pastry and refreshment shop run by a “Mr Trewheelar.”  He also had a biscuit factory in Wharf Street. Again, they struggled to get members and enough books. Another group in Hamilton East had the same problem and when Mr T.C. Hammond opened his “circulation Library” they could not compete and so closed.

Hammond Circulation Library

Mr Hammond owned a book and stationery shop. In 1877 he opened a library in the shop boasting ‘One thousand volumes of new books comprising complete sets of all the standard novelists’ and ‘English and Colonial magazines and papers every month.’  It was successful and interest grew in the town having its own reading room again. Alexandra (Pirongia), Cambridge, Ngaruawahia, Raglan, Te Aroha, and Te Awamutu all had their own reading rooms. In 1883 a proposal by Council to levy a library rate was rejected but the following year each Borough Councillor donated £1.00 from their own pockets towards the establishment of a public library. This again raised the interest of the community, and more subscriptions were received to help.

Grey Street, Hamilton East in 1908, taken from Wellington Street looking north.

Explore more images like this via our Heritage Collections Online