The Marion Bay Depot Library has officially returned to the community hall, bringing the service full circle to its original home.

As part of Yorke Peninsula Council’s School Community Library partnership with the Department for Education, Marion Bay is home to one of Council’s oldest depot libraries.

Operated on a volunteer basis from a local resident’s verandah for many years, the library moved to a more permanent location in the community hall during the 1980s.

In 2004, it was relocated to the Marion Bay Historical Centre.

Built in 1997 by Mr Keith Nelson, the historical centre was gifted to Council along with his maritime collection.

At the time, the Marion Bay Progress Association formed a sub-committee to care for the collection and volunteer time to open the centre to the public.

As volunteer numbers declined, the Depot Library was moved into the historical centre to provide regular opening hours for both the library and the maritime display.

Now, with renewed interest in the maritime collection following the development of the Memorial Walk, the historical centre will undergo updates — and the Depot Library has returned to the Community Hall.

“We’re excited to see the Marion Bay Depot Library return to the Community Hall,” Team Leader HR & People Experience Carina Congdon said.

“This move will provide better access for the community to both the Depot Library and the maritime collection and allow the town to refresh and celebrate its rich maritime history.”

The Marion Bay Depot Library is open to the public on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm. Residents and visitors are encouraged to drop in and explore everything the library has to offer.