This impressive old building in NZ's West Coast town of Hokitika, with "Free Public Library" above the main portico, was one of 18 libraries built in New Zealand with the assistance of Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
A competition was held to design the Hokitika building with the winning plan being that submitted by Nelson architect A.R. Griffin. The wife of the Mayor, Mrs Michel, officially opened the building on 24 June 1908, by using a gold key to open the front doors. The building served as Hokitika’s library until it closed in April 1975. It was later restored and reopened on 16 May 1998 as home to the West Coast Historical Museum. A photo by one of our directors.
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