New Lift and Upgrades Planned for History House
With the new roof complete, we are turning our attention to the next major stage of work at History House: installing a new internal lift.
The lift will improve disability access and make History House easier to visit. It has been ordered through Harwel, a lift company based in Gloucester, New South Wales. The lift is being specially manufactured in Spain to fit within the existing lift shaft while meeting current accessibility requirements. Once completed, it will be shipped to Australia for installation by Harwel.
History House will temporarily close to the public from 5:00 pm on 16 October 2026 so that we can move library materials and prepare the building for the work ahead. The back of the library, where the current library toilets are located, will be reconfigured to create the new lift entrance.
Dismantling of the old lift will begin on 9 November. The new lift is expected to arrive on 15 January 2027, with installation beginning on 18 January and scheduled for completion by 26 February.
We will also improve the tenancy spaces on Levels 2 and 3 and in the basement. Rental income from these spaces will help maintain History House and support our work to promote Australian history.
The RAHS will remain active throughout the closure. Events will move online, and we hope to organise some excursions. The RAHS Librarian will continue to answer research enquiries by phone and email.
Thank you to our members, donors and supporters for making this important work possible. We will provide regular updates as the project progresses and look forward to welcoming you back to a more accessible and improved History House in March 2027.
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