The library at Ainslie Primary School, Braddon, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Abstract

Scene with schoolchildren reading books in a room lined with book shelves on one wall and timber panelling on another. The room features Art Deco decorative details such as arrow-like ventilators and a fluted light fitting. A model sailing ship is displayed on top of the bookshelf and there are also hanging three paintings by Mrs J. L. Neilson. The pictures were inspired by children's books that were popular at the time and include the mad hatter's teaparty from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Ainslie Primary School was built in 1938 to a design by Charles Whitley, an architect employed by the Department of Works. It was the first primary school in Australia to have incorporated into its planning a library, lecture room and needlework room. This photograph is from an album that was held at the London office of the Australian National University over the period 1949 to 1952. The album was used to inform prospective staff about Canberra. These images are part of the series produced by the Department of Information and kept at the National Archives of Australia in Canberra. National Archives holdings in this series have gaps and some images may be held only at the ANU Archives.