Creative Leisure Movement (Sydney, N.S.W.) collection

fonds

1920 - 1994

Textual Records, Graphic Materials

446655

6.65 metres of textual material (15 boxes, 10 outsize boxes)

The Children's Library and Crafts Movement, founded in 1924 by two sisters, Elsie Rivett (1887-1964) and Mary Rivett, later Mary Matheson (1896-1969), and constituted under a Deed of Trust in 1934, became the Creative Leisure Movement in 1969. The Movement pioneered free libraries and after-school activities for children in order to foster their creative imagination. The first centre to open was the Children's Library and Crafts Club, Surry Hills, followed in 1936 with a centre at Erskineville. In 1937 a centre opened at Phillip Park, East Sydney, which ran until 1961 when it was taken over by the Council of the City of Sydney. In 1938 the first children's open-air theatre in N.S.W. opened at Phillip Park. In the late 1940s, a free travelling library service was set up in the Hornsby Shire and the Clovelly Puppet Theatre opened. Centres at Hargrave Park, near Liverpool, and Bradfield Park, West Lindfield, catered for children in public housing settlements. Although the Movement had flourished with a number of metropolitan and country centres, with branches in Queensland and Victoria, by the 1960s municipal councils had begun to assume responsibility for the Movement's libraries. Creative Leisure Centres, formerly Boys' and Girls' Library and Craft Centres, have continued their arts and crafts activities, and also offer programmes in vacation care and for under-5s, disabled persons and senior citizens.

Further records, 1920-1994
Photographs, 1924-1993

This collection comprises two manuscript and pictorial record series. You may navigate to a more detailed description of each series from this collection record.

An earlier accession of 1 box of Creative Leisure Movement records, 1960-1977, is located at MLMSS 3346. Annual reports and financial statements are held at ML Q027.66/1.