State’s first public library could be our next live music venue

It was Queensland’s first publicly-funded municipal library. Now, there’s a push to turn this old girl into our newest music space.

Councillor Jonathan Sri has proposed turning Kurilpa Library in West End into a live music venue. Picture: David Kelly

We got the Triffid, then we got Fortitude Music Hall, and soon Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall will be up and running again.

But could the stately old Kurilpa Library, built in 1929, find new life as Brisbane’s latest live music hangout?

Councillor Jonathan Sri says the heritage-listed brick pile is under-utilised and a tiered modern addition could be built out the back to maximise its potential.

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An expanded space would help meet the area’s growing need for community halls, but it could also fill a gap in the market for small to medium-sized music venues, he said.

“There’s definitely huge demand from musicians and punters around the southside for more venues,’’ Cr Sri said.

“Brisbane’s music scene is growing.

“This city is big enough to hold multiple, successful, venues.’’

Cr Sri, an amateur muso himself who has been a member of several bands, said the gap in the local music scene “ecosystem’’ was for mid-sized venues that could cater to popular local bands, as well as touring acts.

“I imagine the music venue component of the community centre could have a standing capacity of 400 to 600, so it wouldn’t be quite as big as the Tivoli,’’ he said.

“The senior citizens have been making good use of the existing hall for the past few decades, but if we redesign the site we can improve their facilities and also create more space for other groups.’’

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He said local musicians and artists could not find affordable venues to rehearse and perform.

“As property values rise and Kurilpa’s population grows, it’s getting harder to find spaces in West End for live music and the performing arts,’’ he said.

“Right now, West End doesn’t have any dedicated local music venues of a similar size to The Zoo, and I think the 4101 music scene really misses having big local venues like the Motor Room which was demolished to make way for West Village.

“Existing library facilities are also inadequate. Kurilpa Library only has a small selection of books and very few facilities compared to other council libraries, despite the Kurilpa Peninsula being one of the fastest growing parts of southeast Queensland.

“The library doesn’t even have a proper public toilet. If a library patron needs to use the loo, they’re told to go down the street and around the corner to a public toilet in the park.’’

BRISBANE’S MID-SIZED VENUES (standing capacity)

The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley, 1500

Fortitude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley, 3000

The Triffid, Newstead, 800

Kurilpa Hall, West End, 400-600 (estimated)

Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Petrie Terrace, 300 (approx.)

Cr Sri pointed out that Council already owned both the Kurilpa Library and the neighbouring Kurilpa Hall site.

“I’d like to explore combining and redeveloping these two sites together, preserving the historic library building but making more efficient use of the land behind it,’’ he said.

“The new Kurilpa Community Centre could be two or three storeys at the front, tapering up to four storeys at the back corner.

“We could have room for a large, soundproofed, non-profit live music venue, along with a second bookable hall space like the current Kurilpa Hall, a larger library, offices for community groups, and bookable meeting rooms.’’

He said the redesigned library and community centre could include space for a food co-op, tool library services, art studios and workshops, music recording studios, and a youth space similar to Visible Ink in the Valley.

“We could design a sustainable, energy-efficient building that fits the character of the streetscape. You wouldn’t want the height and bulk of the new building to detract from the library’s historic clock tower,’’ Cr Sri said.

“West End has a proud history as a hub for music and the arts, and council needs to provide more dedicated public facilities to support this.’’