If you love heritage architecture, please visit the State Library of Victoria when you are in Melbourne. It has more than books, it has interesting galleries and most importantly it is free of charge.
The State Library of Victoria is not a lending library so you cannot borrow books out, but you can order digital copies but first, you need to be the member. This is Victoria’s largest research library.
How to explore the Library?
First, go get a library map at the information counter and it provides the floor plan of the main public spaces and facilities clearly.
The Dome
This historical building was built in 1913 with the iconic octagonal domed reading room. There are in total 6 storeys high and most storeys are accessible to the public. The big dome at the top is spectacular and many other vintage decorations are very well-preserved.
La Trobe Reading Room
The dome is located in the reading room, it features custom-built desks of Queensland silky-oak timber, heritage chairs, and traditional green reading lamps. Very unique and it creates a very good pattern especially when looking down from the higher floor.
Art Gallery
Cuneiform tablet
This cute little wedge shape clay is an antique as it has over 4,000 years of history! Cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing, invented by the Sumerians. State Library even has one of these! How cool is that? It was used to record the payment of taxes in those days.
Some history on the Victory
Shakespeare Window
This is one of the earliest stained glass window made in Melbourne with a portrait of Willian Shakespeare. It gets damaged and whole pieces of glass were destroyed. Luckily it was restored in 2005 and now visitors can enjoy the brightly colored window. Go spot this piece of art!
Final thoughts:
If you are visiting Melbourne, do pay a visit to the State Library of Victoria! The heritage architecture is stunning, especially the interior. Do look up at the ceiling to look at the octagonal dome and climb up to the higher floor to look down at the custom-built desks, heritage chairs and traditional green reading lamps.
14 comments
It is very big. Gorgeous. Historical. It really feels like entering a dream or a book.
Wow, this is so much more than just a library. what an amazing place to visit.
Libraries are the one place that all three of my daughters LOVE to visit! We would definitely check this one when we visit Melbourne.
I would love to visit that library one day. I’m a huge reader, and libraries are pure magic for me, especially one like that!
I am a history nut and I can get lost in a place like this for hours! Lol.
Wow! This place looks expansive and so full of history!
Love the spiral staircase!! What an absolutely beautifully maintained building! Thanks for the recommendation 🙂
The library looks so gorgeous! I love all the details that you can observe inside, such as that beautiful statue or the Shakespeare window. The main hall is superb as well.
That library is absolutely gorgeous! seriously some of the most incredible architecture! I love visiting places like this when I travel!
It is so huge and gorgeous. I can see why it is a must visit library.
I’m the first one to visit ANY library:) And this one is simply stunning!
That looks like an amazing place to visit. I love the feeling of libraries, but this looks amazing!
Totally envious of you and everyone who has the chance to use the State Library, as this not only looks amazing with its dome and spiral stairs but their collection of books are huge as well
How absolutely stunning! I could get lost in there for hours! Thanks so much for sharing this little tour.