State Library of New South Wales
6 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Why you'll love State Library of New South Wales
- Boasts the grand elegance of the historic Mitchell building
- Modern versatility of the Macquarie Street building
- Fully equipped with racked seating and a state-of-the-art projection room
State Library of New South Wales, the oldest library in Australia, boasts the grand elegance of the historic Mitchell building and the modern versatility of the Macquarie Street building and is truly a unique venue. The more contemporary Macquarie Street building houses the Metcalfe Auditorium; fully equipped with racked seating and a state-of-the-art projection room ensuring the success of presentations, conferences and lectures. The Mitchell building houses the Galleries; with a broad exhibition programme, it provides the ideal space for product launches and larger cocktail-style receptions. The Dixson Room with glimpses across the Domain is ideally utilised for conferences, wedding receptions or corporate events. Smaller rooms are also available for more intimate gatherings.
State Library of New South Wales Function Rooms

Dixson Room
The Dixson Room is located on the ground floor of the Mitchell wing and offers an elegant historic setting with views across the Domain and to Woolloomooloo. This is a warm and spacious room with high ceilings and original oil paintings ado...

Shakespeare room
The Shakespeare Room located on the ground floor of the Mitchell Wing, commemorates the life work of William Shakespeare. The breath taking stained glass window adorning the room depicts a scene from As You Like It, by Arthur G Benfield’s T...

Friends room
The Friends room is on the ground floor of the historic Mitchell Library building. This beautiful space is the original Mitchell Reading Room, opened to the public in 1910. It features enameled steel and leadlight bookcases which hold edi...

Mitchell Vestibule
The Vestibule of the Mitchell Wing features; the Marble replica of the 1644 Tasman Map, some of the finest stained glass in Sydney by artist Arthur Benfield and a magnificent white Italian Botticino marble staircase with turned balustrades....

Galleries
The Mitchell Galleries are located on Level 1 of the Mitchell Wing; this area is well suited for cocktail parties, theatre and presentations. The classical Australian craftsmanship of this room compliments any exhibitions using this space.

Gallery Room
The Gallery Room is located on the ground floor of the Mitchell building and adjoins the Friends Room. It is a warm and spacious room with high ceilings and a decorative stained glass window; it is ideal for conferences, luncheons, dinners ...

Metcalfe auditorium
With a new tiered seating area, separate entrance and bright screening developed by NASA, the 130 seat Metcalfe Auditorium provides an effective venue for a wide range of presentations, seminars, meetings and lectures. Its modern decor, spo...

Macquarie room
The Macquarie Room is ideal for meetings, presentations, workshops, luncheons and for up to 100 people cocktail parties. It is a modern triangular shaped room, featuring a wall of glass, overlooking the courtyard between the old and new win...
Frequently Asked Questions
I have more questions about the State Library of New South Wales venue hire. How do I get in contact?
There are a number of ways you can get in contact:
1) Call the VenueNow team on 1300 647 488 during business hours AEST
2) Contact the VenueNow team via our online chat in the bottom right of the screen
3) Submit an enquiry via the form on the page
The VenueNow team usually reply within a few hours during Australian business.
What steps are involved in booking an event at State Library of New South Wales?
There are a few steps involved in booking an event at State Library of New South Wales and the VenueNow team are here to do the heavy lifting for you.
Firstly, contact the VenueNow team by submitting an enquiry or speaking to one of our team members online or over the phone. We'll need to collect a few details from you, such as your:
- Event type
- Number of people attending
- Preferred event date & time (and if this is flexible)
- Budget (per person or total)
- Room layout
- Food and beverage / catering requirements
- Any other requirements
Once we've gathered these details, the VenueNow team will contact the team at the State Library of New South Wales Australia to check:
1) Can they host the event on your preferred date / time? If not, what are some alternate dates / times?
2) What is the estimated cost based on your event requirements?
This process tends to take around 1 business day on average to receive a response from the venue. Once we've received a response, the VenueNow team will contact you as soon as possible.
If you're happy with the proposed price and dates / times, the VenueNow team will connect you with State Library of New South Wales to finalise your booking (which may include a site visit if you choose to do so).
VenueNow provides this service free of charge to you as we are paid a small fee by State Library of New South Wales if you book via us.
How much does an event cost at State Library of New South Wales?
Please enquire for pricing and availability.
This may be subject to change due to seasonality, day of the week, duration and your specific requirements. For an accurate quote for your event please send an enquiry or contact one of VenueNow's Event Booking Experts.
What type of events can be hosted at State Library of New South Wales?
The following types of events can be held at State Library of New South Wales:
- AGM
- Awards Dinner
- Conference
- Corporate Function
- Corporate Offsite
- Function
- Gala Dinner
- Meeting
- Networking Event
- Product Launch
- School Formal
- Seminar
- Workshop
- Training
- Exhibition
- Wedding
If your specific event type is not on the list, contact one of VenueNow's Event Booking Experts and they will check if State Library of NSW is able to facilitate your event or will help you find an alternate venue.
How do I find out if State Library of New South Wales is available for my event date?
The best way to find out if State Library of New South Wales is available for your event date is to send an enquiry through or get in contact with one of VenueNow's Event Booking Experts.
Availability at many venues around the country is limited so if your date is flexible, please let the VenueNow team know and the venue may be able to provide a range of dates that suit your needs.
What catering / food and beverage options are available at the State Library of New South Wales?
The following food and beverage / catering options are available for guests at State Library of New South Wales, Sydney NSW:
- Filtered Water
- Coffee / Tea
- Inhouse Catering
- Bar Tab
For more information regarding food and beverage / catering options, please contact a VenueNow Event Booking Expert.
Where is the State Library of New South Wales located?
State Library of NSW is located at 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
What's at the State Library of NSW?
There are more than six million items in the library's collection, including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, paintings, architectural plans, objects and digital content. Along with the associated Mitchell Library, this public library has marvellous historical collections, including the First Fleet collection, dating from 1788, which can be found nowhere else in the world.
What are the different venue spaces for hire at the State Library of NSW?
The State Library of NSW is a spectacular venue that offers many possibilities for your next event.
Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, the State Library of NSW has venues to accommodate a diverse range of events, from small meetings to large workshops; presentations, cocktail events, weddings and more. The historic Mitchell Building, with its grand elegance and modern versatility, make it an ideal place to host any type or style celebration you may be dreaming up! You can even hold your next event at the library's new building. You will find everything at the library including catering services as well security guards on-site if needed
Dixson Room
Whether you’re hosting an intimate meeting or a conference, the Dixson Room offers versatile spaces with high ceilings and prints from our collection. This ground floor space has views across Woolloomooloo to one side as well as Domain Park on another!
Shakespeare Room
The Shakespeare Room is a small, yet elegant space. The stained glass window 'The Seven Ages of Man' by artist Arthur G Benfield depicts an incident from William Shakspeare's play As You Like It'. This location would be ideal for smaller dinners and cocktail parties!
Friends Room
The Friend's Room features enamelled steel and leadlight bookcases lining each wall, and lounge seating, making it an ideal place for cocktails or dinner events.
Gallery Room
The Gallery Room is located on the ground floor of the Mitchell building and adjoins the Friends Room. The room is charming and spacious with high ceilings and a decorative stained-glass window.
Metcalfe Auditorium
The Metcalfe Auditorium is a spectacular venue for any type of event. It has cushioned seating, modern decor and spotlighting to make your presentations or meetings more comfortable!
Macquarie Room
The Macquarie Room is the perfect place to host your next event, with its light-filled space and scenic views. You can even enjoy them while eating some delicious food from one of our many catering options!
Paintings Galleries
The landscape and portrait paintings in the State Library's collection are unique, with more than 300 original pieces on permanent public display. The Paintings Gallery is available for hire outside library hours and requires approval from the State Library of NSW - so make sure to get ahead of your schedule!