Subject librarian |
 Tim Hogan Contact Info Contact me via our online reference service, citing my name and the title of this guide. Links: Profile & Guides |
Subject librarian |
 Kent Ball Links: Profile & Guides |
Welcome
This guide will help you to discover information about the history of the State Library of Victoria's buildings, development, and collections.
The guide lists significant articles, books and websites that focus on the history of the Library. You might like to start by:
- looking at a series of timelines which outline the development of the Library from the 1850s to today
- reading some histories of the Library
The guide highlights older material that may be difficult to locate. To access recent published information about the Library use our research tools, especially eresources which include many journal and newspaper articles.
The basics
The Melbourne Public Library was established in 1853. Library Trustees were appointed and they immediately announced a competition to design the building. The competition was won by Joseph Reed, the architect of many of Melbourne's notable buildings. Under his design the Library buildings were to be built in several stages. The first Library building opened in February 1856, during the Victorian gold rush. The famous Dome (now called the La Trobe Reading Room) opened in 1913.
The Library website includes a brief general history of the Library and a summary of its heritage architecture.
Melbourne Public Library 1883, H84.135
Credits
This guide is based on History of the State Library of Victoria: a select bibliography by Fiona Jeffery.
The Library
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
+61 3 8664 7000
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