Library improves brick-by-brick

THE historic Linton Library is another step closer to returning to its best.

Works to rebuild and restore the heritage chimney, and an internal fireplace, are now complete and paid for with funds from the Federal Government and the Golden Plains Shire.

Linton and District Historical Society president Jill Wheeler said the group’s aim is to eventually present the rehabilitated part of the building like a museum – recapturing the era when it was the librarian’s living space.

“It’s wonderful to have achieved this much so far,” she said. “The interior now needs to be patched up a bit, but it will be wonderful when we eventually finish it.”

In refurbishing the chimney, the historical society were first challenged to find a bricklayer who was skilled in working with old bricks, before deciding whether the original materials were viable.

“The bricks of the old chimney were too fragile, and they crumbled in the bricklayer’s hands,” Ms Wheeler said.

“But it was important that we still used second-hand bricks, so we had to buy some old bricks and recycle them.

“We sourced them just north of Ballarat, got them delivered, had the concrete footing made, and then had the chimney built on top of that, incorporating the fireplace inside.

“We’ve still got a lot of second-hand bricks leftover, so we might use them to make some paths.”

The next phase of the Linton Library works include repairs to the weather boards, and the repainting of the building with funding coming from the State Government’s Living Local grant program.

“It will take another couple of years to finish the job,” Ms Wheeler said.

Many librarians, mostly women, lived in the two back rooms on site, and the historical society’s members have the goal to recreate these kitchen-living and bedroom areas. There was no bathroom inside.

“It was job for women, and in a way, a secure place to live. At one point, a librarian’s adult children slept on the veranda, which was somehow enclosed,” Ms Wheeler said.

“There was a sleep out built later on in the 1950s which accommodated the two or three boys, and then a wash house out the back. They somehow managed with no running water.”

Like “following a recipe,” the works are being done according to the 2014 Linton Library conservation management plan.