Port Elizabeth Main Library

The Port Elizabeth Main Library, located in the north-western corner of Market Square in Central Port Elizabeth, is a remarkable example of Victorian Gothic architecture and the only historic building in South Africa constructed specifically as a public library that still fulfils this role today. First established as a reading society in 1844, the institution grew steadily until the present building was officially opened in 1902, with its striking terra-cotta façade imported from England and a Sicilian marble statue of Queen Victoria unveiled in 1903. Declared a historic monument in 1983, the library survived plans to demolish it in the 1960s and continues to serve as a cultural landmark. Visitors can admire its ornate design and explore its rich collection.