The old Newenham homestead was home to an abandoned telephone box that had been sitting unused for years. But thanks to the efforts of the community, it has now been transformed into a thriving Newenham Street Library.
This labour of love all started when a group of residents asked if they could set up a street library in or around the Kitchen Farm Pantry, that the wider Hills community could use to donate and exchange books, allowing them to be shared again and again and giving them a new life.
Knowing there was a beautiful but weathered old telephone box collecting dust in the disused horse stables, the Newenham team had an idea to restore the telephone box to its former glory and renovate it into a street library. With an increasingly growing community full of diverse skill sets, the Newenham community were given the opportunity to volunteer for the project and assist with this wonderful transformation! Alas, we found the perfect man for the job – Tini (who just so happens to build some of the most amazing bird boxes we’ve ever seen) stepped forward and volunteered his time and knowledge.
Working alongside the Newenham groundskeepers, Tini and his team of volunteers moved the telephone box to a safe area and outlined the necessary materials to get the project rolling!
After many weeknights spent cleaning, sanding and gutting the interior, new shelves were added, and it became clear how well this stunning piece of history would be when transformed!
Finally, after relocating the street library to its permanent space and searching through hundreds of colours to find the perfect shade of red, the telephone box was painted and deemed officially restored!
It didn’t take long for the residents to canvas through op shops and old personal bookshelves before we had a fully stocked community library that not only provides a place to foster community spirit, but to encourage literacy and education, sustainability and social interaction!
We’ve seen many a visitor, browse through the books on offer, and wander over to the Kitchen Farm Pantry to purchase a cuppa and a treat, then sit under the shade of the trees and enjoy the environment before getting engrossed in their new book.
The restoration project was a fantastic opportunity to involve our residents in the creation of something wonderful for our neighbourhood and the wider community and shows how the community, with a shared sense of purpose, can come together to share their knowledge, explore interests, learn new skills, build relationships, and most importantly, to have fun. Plus, it’s a great way for people to get to know their neighbours and share recommendations of their favourite books!
Now registered with the official Street Library Australia website, book lovers from all over can visit Newenham to share stories and enjoy our beautiful restored phone box, while borrowing and donating their own books to keep the life cycle going!
If you’re looking to live in a neighbourhood that values a thriving and engaged community, then look no further than Newenham. With larger allotments, plenty of natural open spaces and a community you can call your own, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful, tranquil pocket of the Adelaide Hills.
We invite you to share in our vision of this amazing place our residents love to call home. The Newenham Sales and Information Centre is located at 164 Flaxley Road, Mount Barker check the website for open hours) or you can book by appointment for a personal tour at a time that suits you.
Come and see for yourself why you’ll love living at Newenham.
