State Library of Victoria
Art, ideas & stunning interiors
Feeding minds since 1856, the State Library of Victoria (SLV) is the world’s fourth most visited library with good reason. A vibrant cultural hub, it claims some of Melbourne’s most beautiful heritage spaces. These include the Victorian elegance of Queens Hall (the library’s original reading room) and the jaw-dropping magnificence of the domed La Trobe Reading Room.
Galleries punctuate the complex, showcasing artefacts ranging from rare medieval books and early paintings of Melbourne, to the iconic armour of legendary 19th-century bushranger Ned Kelly.
The library (and in-house Wheeler Centre) hosts a busy calendar of talks, lectures and other cultural events, several of them free.
328 Swanston St, Melbourne
Opening hours: Daily 10am-6pm
Transport: Train to Melbourne Central
slv.vic.gov.au