Our People
25 August, 2025
Final Chapter
AFTER 35 years behind the counter, long-time Beaufort librarian Elizabeth Thurgood has signed off for the final time, leaving behind a legacy of books, stories, and community connection.
Elizabeth began her library career working for the former Ripon Shire, where her first office was tucked beneath the stage at the Shire Hall, as the sole librarian.
“I started off in what the shire staff now call the dungeon, it was underneath the stage, around the back of the Shire Hall,” she said.
When Elizabeth began her career, the library open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings. Back then, resources were scarce.
“The government is funding libraries well for books now, but in those days they didn’t. As a small branch library, I was entitled to seven new books a month. And that was it,” she said.
Swapping old books for fresher stock at the Ballarat Library was a challenge.
“I had to learn to be really familiar with the book and sell a book in a way.
Because the books were old and tired. Luckily, I love books and I knew the stock, and someone would like to come in and I would be able to say ‘if you like this author have a go with someone else’.”
She remained under the stage at the shire hall until 1996 when council amalgamations saw the library relocated to what is now the Bendigo Bank building, but space was tight.
“The bank building was so small that if a person bought a pram in you couldn't fit a second pram in,” Elizabeth recalled.
It was during this period that two computers were installed, and Elizabeth began running classes.
“That was wonderful and that began a fantastic relationship with the community house.”
From the start, Elizabeth’s vision for her community’s library was simple but powerful.
“My philosophy, my belief has always been that the library was meant to be a welcoming, happy place. I wanted people to feel comfortable talking and enjoy it.”
In 2001, the library finally found its permanent home on the main street.
“We came here and I wanted this place to be friendly and welcoming and the community loungeroom. I wanted everybody to be able to come in,” she said.
“I fought the good fight for the windows to bring in some natural light.”
Beyond books, Elizabeth made the library a community hub, from collection boxes and “happy hour” gaming sessions that drew in schoolkids, and even an eight-foot-tall teddy bear that became a beloved part of the library’s atmosphere.
“Eventually the legs flattened and the head flopped and it had to go, but it had a huge life here, and that was part of the fun.”
Elizabeth and her team became not just librarians, but tourist guides, computer trainers, and community hosts.
“I am the biggest Beaufort saleswoman, I’ll rave about this town for hours,” she said.
Over the decades, she built strong ties with the Central Highlands Library service, forged friendships with colleagues, and earned the trust of generations of Beaufort readers.
But after more than three decades, Elizabeth says she is happy to hand the reins over to the next generation of librarians.
“I’ve got people like Jennifer and Janet and Tammi in particular who I’m really happy to hand it over to.”
Reflecting on her time, she says the community was always at the heart of it all.
“I can't tell you how many times I've rearranged the shelves and the shelving here, rearranged what's on the shelves in the other branches.
It’s been wonderful working with the library, and I've met people who use this place that I'd never met. It's the community and friends, and a lovely way to meet people.”
And though she’s left the librarian’s desk, Elizabeth isn’t going far.
“I'm going to be around, yes of course I'll miss it, but I'm not going to be a stranger, I will just be on this side of the counter,” she said.
Now, she plans to spend more time with the Beaufort Historical Society, continuing her passion for local history.
“I adore my local history research and the historical society,” she said.
For Beaufort, Elizabeth’s legacy is more than books on shelves, it’s a library that has been, as she hoped, the town’s community lounge room.
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