FORMER WHITE HILLS READING ROOM & FREE LIBRARY

The White Hills Reading Rooms and Free Library at 532 Napier Street White Hills, designed by Robert F Nicolai and opened in 1913 is significant. 

The former White Hills Reading Rooms and Free Library is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Greater Bendigo. 

The former White Hills Reading Rooms and Free Library is significant as a community place set up for the enjoyment and education of the White Hills community. It belongs in the nineteenth century philanthropic tradition of Mechanic's Institutes and other community facilities set up to benefit working people prior to the introduction of free lending libraries as part of municipal services. Established by a committee of local businessmen including Albert Barnard Ratcliff, tea salesman; Jonathan Knight, law clerk; Edward Stuckenschmidt, postmaster; John Burnet, plumber; Walter Batchelder, dentist and Frederick Schleider, butcher; the White Hills Reading Rooms and Free Library is significant as a place for the education and enjoyment by the White Hills population. It is significant as part of the Bendigo Free Library and Reading Rooms operated by the same committee for a number of years prior to the White Hills facility being established. (Criterion A) 

The White Hills Reading Rooms and Free Library designed by one of the nineteenth century German architects of Bendigo, Robert Nicolai; is an excellent example of an Edwardian style public building. The building has landmark qualities within the predominantly residential section of Napier Street as a result of its prominent siting close to the street and largely intact form and detailing addressing the street. It may comprise parts of the 1864 Wesleyan Church by W C Vahland which was removed to the site; however this has not been established.

The building is significant for its demonstration of some key characteristics of the Edwardian style including the roof forms, decorative bracketed eaves, half hipped roof, decorative metal ridging, casement window joinery (some sashes have been replaced), combination of linear and block fronted weatherboards and a brick chimney. The function of the building is well expressed through its form and the manner in which the entry porch with highly decorative barge boards, strapping and finial addresses the street. (Criterion E)