19 September 2025
I love these crazy ornate lamps that flank the main steps of the State Library; three little sphinxes with scrolls for bodies, and tendrils up the post. They were installed in 1891, to enable the gallery to be open at night, though I’m not sure that actually happened. They were designed and made by FCW Richard in North Melbourne. He was born in Prussia, became British by 1870, and was here by the late 1880s. The portrait of him was made to go with some ornamental gates he displayed in the 1888 Exhibition.
They’re either side of the status of Redmond Barry, a leading founder of the library/gallery, installed in 1887, sculpted by James Gilbert and Perceval Ball.
The forecourt was super busy at 2.30, just before the shadows of the too-many towers creeped across. The old photos go back in time, showing how it’s changed a lot: the diagonal paths were created in 1939, when the elaborate gates and fence were removed; then there’s a photo from 1901 showing the original gas lamp tops (and wrapped in black cos Queen Victoria had just died); the unveiling of the Berry statue; before the Barry statue; then right back to the 1860s, before the fence or even the main pediment was built, looked terrible, and it was like that for 20 years. Info from State Library history of itself.
Storey of Melbourne 