Library restoration unearths unusual hidden history

During the restoration project of the University of Adelaide’s historic Reading Room, considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in Australia, staff uncovered a flight of paper planes flown by distracted students into the nooks and crannies of the building – some more than three decades old.

“The Barr Smith Library’s Reading Room restoration project required the removal of over 20,000 books from the shelves so that specialist cleaning of the ceiling and painting could occur,” said University Librarian Siân Woolcock, who was involved in overseeing the restoration work.

“The walls and columns were repainted in heritage colours selected in consultation with architects Swanbury Penglase and Heritage SA.”

Now reopened following the work that closed the Library from April to July, University of Adelaide students, staff and the general public are again free to visit and admire the beautiful space.

The Reading Room, known affectionately by students as the ‘Harry Potter’ room, provides an inspiring location for silent study, and is particularly popular during the study break and exam periods.

“We’re so pleased this restoration has been completed in time for next year’s 150th anniversary of the University of Adelaide.”

During the heritage restoration project, 61 paper planes were retrieved from various locations around the ceiling of the Reading room – some planes dating back more than 30 years.

“The paper planes were a fun discovery. We always knew they were up there but could never reach them to find out just how many. They were found on the ledges and windowsills and there was even one lodged vertically in the ceiling plaster, which would have been a tough shot,” said Ms Woolcock.

“We’re so pleased this restoration has been completed in time for next year’s 150th anniversary of the University of Adelaide.”University Librarian Siân Woolcock

Though some of the discovered planes are made from new, crisp paper and appear to have been flown up to the ceiling by students quite recently, other planes are extremely delicate and brittle. Some of the older planes are even suspected to have been created using paper torn from the library books themselves.

“We were delighted upon unfolding one plane to discover that it had been created from a University flyer that dated back earlier than 1991, meaning the student most likely made and flew it over 30 years ago.”

The Barr Smith Library Reading Room was originally opened in 1932 and was the architectural work of Walter Hervey Bagot, whose portfolio includes St Peter's and St Francis Xavier's Cathedrals, Bonython Hall and the State War Memorial. Constructed of red brick with stone dressings, the Library's freestone portico leads directly into the massive and opulent reading room.

The Library also took the opportunity to restore four historic portraits that hung in the Reading Room. The restoration work was undertaken by ArtLab Australia. These portraits are of Mr Thomas Elder Barr Smith, Lord Howard Florey, Sir Douglas Mawson, and Sir Mark Oliphant and will be rehung shortly and once again available for viewing by the public.

Library staff hope to display the planes in a future showcase and are calling for any past students who may have flown a paper plane into the Reading Room’s ceiling to get in touch and tell their story.

All enquiries contact Rachel Clements, Senior Manager, Client Services: rachel.clements@adelaide.edu.au