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Why was the Barr Smith Library opened in 1982?
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On 29 March 1892 Robert Barr Smith wrote to Way: “If you approve, and if the Council of the University are willing to accept it, I would like to make a donation of a thousand pounds, for the purchase of books, to make the commencement of a Library for the University.”.
1982 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Barr Smith Library, a gift to the University from Tom Elder Barr Smith. The building was intended as a memorial to his father, Robert Barr Smith, who had given large sums of money for the purchase of books for the Library.
- Margy Burn
- 1982
In 1892 Robert Barr Smith gave £1,000 to the University to purchase books for the commencement of a Library. Over the following years up to 1911 he gave a further £8,000 for the purchase of books for the University Library.
Apart from his gifts to The University, Robert distributed his wealth widely and without asking for recognition. The building of St Peter’s Cathedral had lapsed in 1890 due to lack of funds. In 1900 Robert contributed £10,000 to the completion of the tower and the spires.
Robert Barr Smith (1824-1915) was a prominent businessman and entrepreneur. In 1855, he joined Elder and Company in Adelaide and became a partner in the business, which from 1863 was known as Elder Smith and Company, now Elders Limited.
Jan 9, 2024 · The early Barr Smith Library, featuring one of the best monumental reading rooms in Australia, was opened in 1932. It was funded by donations from Tom Elder Barr Smith and named in honour of his father Robert Barr Smith who donated some £11,000 for books to establish the first University of Adelaide Library.
Born and raised in country Scotland, Robert had an ingrained appreciation for tramping the country and shooting a good bag of game. In 1884 he wrote to Peter Waite from Scotland: “I took a shooting here for the mere purpose of forcing myself to take violent exercise.
