Architecture, Building and Planning Library Rare Materials Collection

The Architecture, Building and Planning Rare Material Collection is composed of rare, valuable or fragile materials and has strong holdings representing individual architects and architectural firms as well as local architectural history. The Collection includes 19th and 20th century material such as seminal architectural texts, collections of major Melbourne architects and planners, original drawings, sketchbooks and scrapbooks, and a substantial thesis collection. Although many of the items were acquired by the University from the 1850s onwards, the Collection largely has its origins in the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Library collection that was transferred to the University of Melbourne in 1969. Significant materials have been bequeathed to the University over a long period, particularly from the estates of architects.

As well as the library of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter, donated in 1969, notable architects and planners whose  personal books are in the rare material collection include:

• Robin Boyd
• Walter Butler
• Harold Desbrowe-Annear
• Dr Ernest Fooks
• Frank Heath
• George Inskip
• Beryl Mann
• Balwant Singh Saini
• John Scarborough
• A E Twentyman

The collection also includes donations from practices such as Bates Smart and Yuncken Freeman.