Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library

The Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library is a regional library and community hub located in Armstrong Creek, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The library officially opened to the public on August 1, 2024
and is designed to serve the growing Armstrong Creek community.

History

The Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library, with a project cost of AU$21.864 million, began construction in 2022. It is located within the Armstrong Creek Town Square and shopping precinct. The name "Biyal-a" reflects the Wadawurrung language, meaning "place of many red gums" and "red gums speak lots of stories," symbolizing the cultural heritage and natural landscape of the area.

Funding

The City of Greater Geelong contributed AU$20.364 million to the project, while the Victorian Government provided an additional AU$1.5 million through the Living Libraries Grant.

Facilities

The library is a three-level facility featuring:

A children's story time area
A library service
Accessible contemporary amenities
Multipurpose spaces
Outdoor terraces
Creative spaces for community use
A collection of more than 30,000 books and resources

Design

The building includes a water-thread narrative on the ground floor, capturing the First Nations culture and connection to the local landscape. The design and planning of the library involved consultation with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Name Registration

While the facility is commonly referred to as Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library, it carries the registered title "Biyala Armstrong Creek Library" with the Office of Geographical Names. This adjustment was made due to emergency services' inability to list and search names with a hyphen during emergencies.