State Library Victoria
328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Library
•Why you'll love State Library Victoria
- Features incredible event spaces in Australia's oldest and most impressive Library.
- With a meticulously restored heritage design, ceiling skylights, letting natural light flood in.
- With AV facilities and events catering.
State Library Victoria is without a doubt one of the most recognisable landmarks in Melbourne – recently having just undergone an incredible $88.1 redevelopment. Restoring and reopening spaces within the Library, some of which have been closed for over a decade. It is one of the most ambitious projects the Library has undertaken and has resulted in some of Melbourne’s most historic and captivating spaces now available for events. These beautiful spaces include the grand Ian Potter Queen’s Hall, restored to its former 1850s architectural features and paint scheme, as well as fully equipped conference areas like the Conversation Quarter, fitted with state-of-the-art A/V and broadcast technology. The spectacular La Trobe Reading Room, the grand Melbourne stalwart leads something of a double life as an elegant function venue.
This modern update to the State Library opens up a world of event possibilities with the combined use of multiple areas for large-scale programs, multi-space conferences and festival concepts. A true events hub, located in the middle of Melbourne’s central business district. The new Library is an events precinct unparalleled by location, facilities, style and history with beautiful heritage interiors and modern amenities. The library houses a wide range of function spaces and break-out spaces. State Library Victoria has hosted conferences, weddings, opulent dinners, effective workshops, unique launches and countless corporate presentations. It's not difficult to see why, with the high ceilings, old-world sophistication, wooden floorboards and artwork found throughout the venue's many spaces.
Reviews for State Library Victoria
Dr Alex
A Grand & Iconic Institution, Though Its Heartbeat is Changing The Victoria State Library remains an architectural and intellectual landmark that absolutely deserves a visit. The grand Domed Reading Room is breathtaking, the historic galleries are fascinating, and the atmosphere in the quieter sections is still one of deep reverence for learning. The free exhibitions are consistently well-curated and informative, offering a genuine dose of culture and history. My four-star rating reflects a slight, personal reservation about its evolving public role. While it remains a vital resource for students and researchers, the library's main halls have undeniably recent visit, a significant portion of the crowd was there primarily to "Da Ka" (take photos) and capture Instagram content, often with elaborate posing in the beautiful spaces. While it's wonderful that people appreciate the building's beauty, the quiet hum of study and discovery now competes with the soft chatter of photo directions and the constant, subtle presence of phones and cameras. It can feel less like a hall of knowledge and more like a spectacularly beautiful set. That said, this is more an observation on modern tourism than a critique of the library itself, which continues to offer incredible value. Just be prepared for a bustling, photogenic crowd in the iconic areas. For a truly quiet experience, you need to seek out the less famous reading rooms. It’s still a must-see in Melbourne, whether you come for the books, the exhibitions, or simply to witness its stunning grandeur.
W M
My friend took me to the SLV, which is said the most beautiful library in the Southern Hemisphere. Built in 1854, it's in the Neoclassical style. Its exterior is magnificent and imposing. The La Trobe Reading Room is a masterpiece of domed architecture. The interior decoration blends historical and modern elements, possessing both a 19th-century retro atmosphere and maintaining functionality. It reportedly houses over 2 million books, covering art, history, literature, science, and many other fields, including rare ancient books, manuscripts, maps, and newspaper archives such as 19th-century colonial-era documents. In the upstairs, there are quiet study areas, group discussion rooms, and comfortable lounge areas, catering to both study and relaxation needs. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets are available, makes it very friendly to students and remote workers, you can easily spend the whole day there with a coffee.
BA
Ashtonishing library! •one of the most beautiful libraries Ive seen! •amazing architecture and interior arrangements •very huge! You can spend whole day browsing and exploring the place •dome is really very pretty! •lots of seating options, with charging docks •children’s area is also very well-organized and nicely structured
herm dig
Don't make the mistake of thinking this is just a library. It is, and it does feel a bit strange seeing people trying to study while surrounded by hordes of tourists, but it also has first class exhibition spaces and of course amazing architecture. The dome is genuinely jaw-dropping, as are many of the reading rooms and exhibition spaces. I spent a happy couple of hours learning about the history of the book, first nation art and heritage, censorship and misinformation and got to see Ned Kelly's suit of armour. Free guided tours provide extra insight.
Sadewa 48
One of the iconic places in Melbourne that is absolutely worth visiting! This is a public library where people come here to read, or do their work, so there are plenty of seatings in plenty of different rooms. Additionally, since it is one of the iconic places, many people visit here as well to take some nice pictures and explore the area. Most people visit the dome, which is known for its breathtaking architecture, with plenty of different floors to take some nice photos of the library and its architecture. Definitely recommend visiting here as it is one of the well known places to visit in Melbourne!
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