It was back on August 5 that the state’s Mortlock Chamber was crowned the second most beautiful library in the world by 1000 Libraries – but visitors hoping to make their own assessment have been locked out since June.

The historic library built between 1866 and 1884 was closed for “essential” renovations led by architecture firm Swanbury Penglase – with the much-needed renovation of “well-worn” carpet and masonry columns on the ground floor underway.

Friday morning marked the much-anticipated, official reopening, and InDaily toured the Mortlock Chamber in the lead up, learning about marriage proposals, a random motorbike lapping the basement and a unique connection with Big Ben in London.

Exhibitions librarian Mark Gilbert admitted the library’s global win could have been timed

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