The University of Adelaide was founded in 1874 in the center of the city’s North Terrace. Perhaps it’s most magnificent and imposing edifice is the Renaissance style Barr Smith Library (opened in 1930).
Robert Barr Smith was a Scotsman who worked as a commission and supply merchant to the Australian colonies. In 1854, he moved to Melbourne and then, two years later, to Adelaide. It was here that he formed a partnership with Thomas Elder , creating the “Elder Smith & Company”. As their business grew, they expanded into trading, farming, and copper mining, opening large areas of South Australia’s outback. By 1890, they owned an area larger than Smith’s home country of Scotland. Barr Smith was very interested in the social and cultural development of Adelaide, donating large amounts of his wealth to those pursuits. When the University of Adelaide was founded (1874), Barr Smith became a member of its governing council, serving nineteen years. During his lifetime, he donated over $50,000 (in today’s dollars) to the University, including some $15,000 for the improvement and expansion of the library ( following his death, Smith’s family donated an additional $100,000). The new library building, which opened in 1932, was designed to hold 150,000 volumes and accommodate two hundred people in its reading room ( which itself could hold 15,000 books). To honor Robert Barr Smith’s generosity to the University of Adelaide, the library was named after him. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in Australia.
Considered to be the most beautiful part of the library, the Barr Smith Reading Room can accommodate 200 people.