Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148:front:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 14465–17318

Pearson AO Heritage consultant for the previous version of the CMP

    2. Description, History and other Evidence

2.1 Location and Boundaries

The National Library of Australia is located at Parkes Place West, on Block 4 of Section 27, Parkes.  The block incorporates the podium of the Library building, small extensions to the northeast and northwest occupied by services, the entry stairway to the east, an access ramp and steps to the south, and the service courtyard to the southwest with a service road off King Edward Terrace.

  Figure 2.  Location Plan for the National Library of Australia
  Source:  Base image Google Maps

Figure 3.  Block and Section Plan for the National Library of Australia
Source:  Base image ACTmapi

Figure 4.  Lease area for the National Library of Australia
Source:  National Library of Australia

Figure 5.  Aerial view of the National Library of Australia
Source:  Base image Google Imagery

2.2 Brief Description and Condition of the Place

National Library of Australia Building

Overview
The National Library of Australia building is a prominent feature of the Parliamentary Zone.  This large rectangular building sits on a podium on the western side of the zone near the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

  Figure 6.  Library from the north, across Lake Burley Griffin
  Source:  Duncan Marshall 2017

The building is generally clad in Italian travertine and Carrara marble with an encircling colonnade; it is rectangular in plan and was inspired by the style and proportions of the design of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.  The podium is clad in rock faced grey trachyte in contrast to the light stones of the building above.  The podium contains two basements and the building above has five storeys.  The building has a low pitched copper roof.  The building's exterior is clad with marble, travertine, granite, bronze, slate and copper, while its interior has fine Australian timber finishes.

More detailed information is provided in Appendix C.

It should be noted the landscape surrounding the building is not within the control of the National Library of Australia, and it is accordingly not within the scope of this plan.  None the less, it is the important setting for the building, as is discussed at Section 2.3 and elsewhere.

Structure and construction
The building has a reinforced concrete structure of columns and slabs.  The two service cores are reinforced concrete and these are rendered.  Exterior walls are masonry clad with marble on the outside and rendered internally.  Internal walls are a variety of construction including blockwork, brickwork, and lightweight framed construction.  The roof has steel trusses.  Refer to plans at Appendix C.

High quality materials were used in many of the key spaces and building detailing.  This includes:
     * paving of