Our temporary Hillcrest Library at Hamilton Gardens will continue to stay open until the Masters Ave building is ready to reopen.
See our locations page for opening hours and address details.
We’re excited to share that Hamilton City Councillors have voted to reopen and expand Hillcrest Library at Masters Ave following last year’s fire.
This decision was confirmed on 28 May 2026 with Councillors recognising the library’s importance to the community, its high level of use, future growth needs, and the damage caused by the August 2025 fire.
Before the fire, Hillcrest Library was the busiest of our neighbourhood libraries—welcoming around 82,000 visitors each year, issuing 145,000 items, and hosting 227 community programmes annually.
What happens next?
Staff will begin detailed design work on the expanded library, with opportunities for community feedback along the way. Plans will return to Council for further approval before the end of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What happened?
In August 2025, a fire broke out at the dairy next to Hillcrest Library. As a result, the library at the Masters Avenue site is currently closed.
The fire caused significant damage to the dairy, which was part of the same Council-owned building as the library. We have been working to keep the site and people safe, liaising with insurance providers, and determining the next steps for both the building and the library.
What we’ve done so far:
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Secured the building for safety.
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Started our insurance processes.
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Safely disposed of collection items that suffered smoke and water damage.
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Opened a pop-up library at Hamilton Gardens.
- Council has decided on what the next steps are for the Masters Avenue building.
What’s still to come:
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Staff will begin detailed design work on the expanded library, with opportunities for community feedback along the way.
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Plans will return to Council for further approval before the end of 2026.