884 RECORDS OK THE AUSTKAIJAN MUSEUM. 



Nutliiiiof, however, of a. practical nature appears to have resulted 

 until the middle of 1861, for iji May a Committee report-^^ was presented 

 to the Board in wliich it suggested that the wliole of the walls, roofs, and 

 floors of the entire wing be erected, foUowed by the fittings for the 

 two northern and central rooms^-^. 



Ill their Annual Report for 1861, the Trustees stated they had the 

 satisfaction of reporting that the additions to the Museum weie in 

 progress-''. The architect of the New Wing was either Mr. William oi' 

 Mr. Alexander Dawson, but it was clearly completed under the direction 

 of Mr. James Barnett. Mr. Thomas Barnett informs me that the 

 architecture of the high central portion is " Corinthian Classic," and the 

 wings would be best described as " Italian Renaissance." Mr. James 

 Barnett was Acting Colonial Architect during 1868-65, and occupied the 

 full position from 1866 to 1890, when the title of his office was changed 

 to that of Government Architect. 



This western fagade of the building evidently met with approval, for 

 we read in " Lawrence Frost's Compendium of his Views of Australia " 

 (no date) that this front : — 



" Shows one of the most classic and well-proportioned specimens of architecture 

 to be seen in Sydney." 



Again, in " William Maddocks' Visitors' Guide to Sydney," 1872, is 

 the following flowery description : — 



" The building is a large, massive, and beautiful edifice, of a bold style of 

 IJoman or Grecian architecture .... The site of t\w l)uildin<x 

 required a style of architecture wliicii would be effective when viewed 

 from a great distance. The tympanum of the pediment has been left 

 plain, some day it will probably be graced with a colossal emblematical 

 group. Internally the ground and first floors of the new buikbng are 

 about 2()() feet in length, 35 feet wide, and 23 feet high ; eacli gallory 

 being divided into five compartments by means of Corinthian coluiims." 



The practice of exhibiting all new material or, at any rate, as nuu-li 

 of it as possible at lioard Meetings, tirst came iido vogue in Februai'y, 

 1858, by resolution, and has continued ever since-'-. Books had now beeji 

 acquired eithei' by purchase in a mt)dei"ate way, or by gift, from the time 

 of the Hrst arrival of the Col]ectit)ns in College Street, but the flrst 

 indication of libi-ary activities proper occurred in August, 185()-'''', when 

 the Secretary was instructed to prepai-e a list of all the books in the 

 Trustees' possession, and a trifle later a. Inbiaiy Committee was formed. 

 These transactions unquestionably foinied tlic^ niiclt'us of the magniflcent 

 Library now connected with the Institution. In the Annual Kejiort for 

 l858^i'*' it was reported that £140 had been allotted for erection of book 



20. til 

 •-'"" Minutes, 2n(l .May, IHdl ; Documcnl \ 



32 

 -"' ,, 2nd May and 1st .\ugust, IHfil : Lcltcr-lx.ok ii., p. 2. 



•-'"• Annual Keport for IHIiJ (1H()2), p. 2. 

 -'■-' Minutes, (ith February, 18.J8. 

 21- ,, 2nil August, 18,-5(1. 



■i'^ Annual Report for 1858 (185i»), p. 2. 



