144 War Memorial Library, Lower Hutt 1960s
Reason for the name
The Lower Hutt War Memorial Library is a building in Lower Hutt that houses that city's central library. The public library system of the city of Lower Hutt identifies the library collection within the building as the "War Memorial Library". The library building was constructed from 1952 to 1956. It typifies many of the community projects completed in New Zealand as memorials after World War II in contrast to the statues and cenotaphs more commonly erected following World War I.
John William Andrews, the Mayor of Lower Hutt from 1933 to 1947, initiated planning for a civic complex in Lower Hutt. His successor Percy Dowse, who was mayor from 1950 to 1970, oversaw the implementation of the various projects. The Library was designed by Ron Muston and opened in 1956.
Author: The Poppy Places Trust
The library building was constructed from 1952 to 1956. It was part of a town planning concept that resulted in four civic buildings adjacent to Riddiford Park: a church (St James's Church), a library, a town hall complex, and a horticultural hall. Ron Muston was the designer for St James's Church, which opened in 1953, and he was commissioned to design the library in a style complimentary to the church. The library opened in 1956 at a cost of NZ£200,000, double its initial cost estimate.
Distinctive features of the War Memorial library building include murals by artist Leonard Mitchell - 'Their Sacrifice', 'Preserved Freedom' and 'Human Endeavour'.
In October 1955 Ron Muston commissioned Leonard Mitchell to paint three murals for the Library, two for the Memorial Hall, the main entrance to the building, measuring 20 feet tall by 14 feet wide (approximately 6 metres by 4.2 metres), and a third to be hung above the main desk, measuring 8.5 feet tall by 28 feet wide (approximately 2.5 metres by 8.5 metres). They were the largest murals ever to be commissioned in New Zealand up to that time and Len was faced with the daunting task of designing and completing the murals within three and a half months.
The original brief was for the murals to be painted directly onto the walls but Len was adamant they be done on canvas, he wanted his work to be of a lasting nature, and had concerns around earthquake risk and maintenance. Len's wish was eventually granted on condition that the building contractors, W.M. Angus Ltd., make up the frames to precise measurements laid down by Ron Muston. However, the wait for the frames cut severely into Len's time with them only arriving in December. The Library was scheduled to open on the 28th of February. Len's brother, Frank, undertook the huge job of covering the frames which he did using a heavy linen fabric treated with copper to ensure long life and imperviousness to water damage and light. Len worked day and night to complete the commission on time, giving them up for delivery to the Library on the 24th of February. Len, Frank and their father, Leonard Cornwall Mitchell, worked all weekend to install the murals and complete the lettering. Once the panels were installed above the main desk, a ribbon had to be painted to tie the five panels together as one work. This task, which couldn't be done until the panels were finally installed, was completed by Len's father.
The official opening was set for the afternoon of Tuesday 28th February and Frank recalls that Len was still hard at work, up a ladder, as the first guests started to arrive. It had been planned to hold the ceremony outside but due to the unseasonably wet day it was decided to move everyone inside.
On 13 June 2003, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now known as Heritage New Zealand) added the Lower Hutt Civic Centre Historic Area to the historic areas register of the Wellington Region, with registration number 7520.
