A sound mind in a sound body. That’s what the Latin inscription on the Leys Institute Gymnasium proclaimed. The Leys Institute stands here as a testament to Victorian ideals. It embodies education, self-improvement, and the philanthropy of the middle class.
The Leys Institute comprises two buildings. These early 20th-century structures are the Leys Institute Gymnasium and the Leys Institute Public Library. Both are category 1 heritage listings. They are located in Ponsonby, Auckland.
William Leys founded the Leys Institute. He wished to create a library and mechanics institute. His will, however, lacked sufficient funds. His brother Thomson Wilson Leys negotiated a deal with Auckland City Council. Thomson would contribute half the funds. The council would provide the land. The Council agreed. Additional funding came from William Mason’s estate and two Auckland mayors.
Robert Martin Watt designed both buildings in the Edwardian Baroque style. The library has two storeys. The gymnasium has one. The windows are narrow. Pilasters separate them. Each pediment features a volute on both sides. It’s similar to a Dutch gable.
Inside the library, the first floor houses the library itself. The second floor contains a recreation room, a lecture hall, and a meeting room. The gymnasium proudly displays the Latin phrase mens sana in corpore sano.
Mayor Edwin Mitchelson opened the Leys Institute Public Library in March 1905. Thomson Leys opened the Leys Institute Gymnasium on 4 July 1906. Thomson served as the first president of the Leys Institute. He donated his personal collection to the library. He also established a memorial fund for his wife. This resulted in the Hilary Leys Memorial Wing extension. His son Cecil Leys succeeded Thomson. In 1965, with no family beneficiary, the institute passed to Auckland City Council. It became part of the Auckland Public Library system.
The library building expanded over time. A new room was added in 1909. A basement followed in 1922. In 1939, a rear addition and basement extension were completed. The two-storey Hilary Leys Memorial Wing opened in 1958. It served as a children’s library.
Auckland City Council built a two-storey extension to the gymnasium in 1967 and 1968. This was later demolished during the 1991 renovation. The main gymnasium area was extended.
John Gummer led a restoration in 1991. It was funded by the William Leys Trust. Since 2019, the Leys Institute has been closed. The closure is due to earthquake risks. Auckland Council has committed millions to strengthen the building.
The Leys Institute has been a library and gymnasium. It also served as a community center. Artistic and sporting groups utilized its facilities. Heritage New Zealand calls the Leys Institute nationally significant. It contributes to the streetscape of the Three Lamps area.