Armidale War Memorial Library and First and Second World Wars Roll of Honour

About

The purpose-built war memorial library was established in 1954 and opened in May 1956 to commemorate those from the district who served in the First and Second World Wars. The library foyer contained a large bronze honour roll, manufactured by the Wunderlich Company in Sydney, listing 238 names.  In June 1945 a public meeting was held to request that Armidale City Council develop a free library. A block of land between the Armidale Folk Museum and the Dumaresq Shire building was handed over to Council from the Armidale Literary Institute. Further discussions took place that year and a meeting was held on 3 May 1946 to consider a war memorial library. Tenders were called in May 1954. The building tender was awarded to C F Nott and Son and the successful tender for the fixtures was submitted by C A Skinner, who also donated the cabinet to hold the Book of Remembrance. In September 1954 Armidale City Council and Dumaresq Shire Council combined to launch an appeal for £10,000 for the War Memorial Library. The appeal opening date was to coincide with the laying of the library’s foundation stone by the Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott, on 25 November 1954 (The Armidale and New England General Advertiser 17 Sept 1954).  In February 1955 a call was made for names of Armidale and District residents who had served and those who had fallen; these names became the basis of the Book of Remembrance. The library was officially opened and the honour roll unveiled by Major General Ivan Dougherty on 5 May 1956.  The library was originally located in Faulkner Street and was relocated to new premises in Rusden Street in 2020-2021. The bronze honour roll was moved to the new site and is now located above a cabinet holding the Book of Remembrance.

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