3-076-524 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The School of Arts moved to Ann Street to a building which had been erected in 1865 and used as a Servants Home, where new immigrants could lodge until they found employment. The building was bought in 1873 and in 1877 the architect Richard Gailey designed alterations to make the structure more suitable for its new purpose. The new Brisbane School of Arts was officially opened in 1878. Outbuildings and additions were added later at various times. The main use of the building in the 1920s and 1930s was as a public lending library. After World War Two the building was acquired by the Brisbane City Council and used as headquarters for the Council Library services. In 1983 the building was repaired and renovated. The shopfronts built along the Ann Street frontage were demolished and the building restored to its original condition. The three-storey building with its deep verandahs remains as a fine example of the style of architecture being developed in the city at the time of its construction.