Suva City Carnegie Library, Suva

Suva City Carnegie Library, Suva

The Suva City Carnegie Library's inception traces back to 1907 when Andrew Carnegie extended a grant of 1500 pounds to the early Suva City Council. The only condition attached to Carnegie's offer was that the board provide a suitable site for the library and commit for its maintenance.

Officially inaugurated on November 24, 1909, by Governor Sir Everard Ferdinand im Thurn, the library received book donations from notable figures like Sir Alport Barker, the publisher of Fiji Times & Herald Limited. In the late 1920s, the Suva Town Board expanded the library by adding two substantial wings, each surpassing the size of the original structure.

During World War II, the library premises served a different purpose, hosting the American naval dental unit while the Carnegie books were safely stored away. The Suva Book Club persisted in temporary rooms. Post-war, both collections were reinstated in their original quarters, ultimately merging to form the Suva City Library.

An intriguing chapter in the library's history unfolded during its 100th Anniversary Celebration, with William Thomson, the great-grandson of Andrew Carnegie, gracing the occasion as a special guest.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Suva. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Suva City Carnegie Library on Map

Sight Name: Suva City Carnegie Library
Sight Location: Suva, Fiji (See walking tours in Suva)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Suva, Fiji

Create Your Own Walk in Suva

Create Your Own Walk in Suva

Creating your own self-guided walk in Suva is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Suva Introduction Walking Tour

Suva Introduction Walking Tour

Located on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, the main island of the Republic of Fiji, Suva is the country's largest metropolitan area and primary port. Serving as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub, it also holds significance as the economic and cultural capital of the South Pacific.

Originally a small village, Suva's growth began with land granted to the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles