Thanks to the generous donation by Dr Jim Kerr of Jim’s and the late Professor Joan Kerr’s substantial art and architecture library, we’ve been busy.

While the books were packed into a container in Sydney, Ross and Scott with the help of Pierre measured  and dug the holes, placed the second hand steel beams and whisker plates, and poured the concrete.

Grace removals rang to tell us the container was delivered to the depot and ready to be unpacked; we explained that the whole container was being delivered; they told us they did not have any swing trucks on the coast. We co-ordinated a crane and the Grace truck to arrive at the same time.

Grace told us the combined weight was less than 6 tonnes - with a container full of books, I was surprised it was so light. As it turned out, the container weighed over 10 tonnes and all the weight was packed up one end. As the crane could not lift it, we all (crane and truck driver, Scott and Donna, Ross and Anika) helped unload half of the books.

The crane then moved the container, slightly less impossibly. The heavy machinery left, along with a few large branches from overhanging trees.

Then Ross, Anika, and Tamsin moved all the books back in – the advantage was we could tape up the boxes that got missed by Grace’s somewhat careless packing, make a central corridor for access, and even unpack (and then repack) one box that was split open (it was the M artist box: William Morris, Monet, Matisse, and Maplethorpe, amongst others).

By the late afternoon, with aching backs and panting muscles, we got the last box back in, put in a rodent and insect bomb, and shut the doors (carefully not shutting Anika in!).

The contained library lies waiting to be properly unpacked, admired, and used – but that will be a while off yet. Now to just build the library to house such an admirable collection – an almost complete record of Australian art and architecture, with a general overview of so much more. We are enriched by its presence and its future – the foundation is complete!

Next comes the insulated roof to keep the container cool (although the nearby tree helps already).

Finally, when the books are moved to their permanent library, the container will be decked out with verandah, windows, and doors – to become another place for temporary visitors and other inhabitants.

Tamsin already gloating over books!