State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria is a working library that doubles as one of Melbourne's most beautiful free sights. Founded in 1856, it is among the oldest free public libraries in the world, and its classical facade and front lawn on Swanston Street have been a meeting place for generations of Melburnians. The building's showpiece is the La Trobe Reading Room, completed in 1913 under a great octagonal dome. Desks radiate from the centre like spokes, with galleries ringing the space above, and the room is filled with natural light from the dome's glass oculus. Seen from the upper levels it is one of the most photographed interiors in Australia, though note that levels 5 and 6 of the Dome, including the highest viewing points, are currently closed; check the official opening hours page before you go. Even from the ground floor, the scale is remarkable. The library is also a treasure house. Its collections cover Victorian history and culture, and the exhibition galleries display selections of rare books, maps, artworks and objects, including famous material relating to Ned Kelly. The Ian Potter Queen's Hall, a grand restored reading room, is open daily from 10am to 4pm, and the Cowen Gallery, with its rotundas, displays art from the collection. Hansen Hall, entered from Swanston Street, is a modern, light-filled space. There is a Readings bookshop on site and the Guild Cafe near the Russell Street entrance. The library is open daily from 10am to 6pm and closed on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Entry is free, and anyone can come in to read, study, use the free Wi-Fi or simply admire the architecture. The new State Library Metro Tunnel station is right beside it.

Make the La Trobe Reading Room your first stop, entering quietly, since people are working there. Then explore the galleries and the Cowen Gallery, and look into the Ian Potter Queen's Hall while it is open. Photography for personal use is generally allowed in public areas, but be considerate of readers and follow any signage. Free tours are offered at times; check at the information desk. If the upper Dome levels have reopened when you visit, the view down into the reading room from the top balconies is the shot everyone wants.

The library sits at the corner of Swanston and La Trobe streets, opposite Melbourne Central and a short walk from RMIT and Old Melbourne Gaol. The forecourt lawn is a favourite lunch spot on sunny days, and trams along Swanston Street stop outside. The La Trobe Street entry and its cafe are currently closed for refurbishment, so use the Swanston or Russell Street entrances.

It is an ideal stop for a rainy hour, a quiet break from sightseeing or an introduction to the city's literary culture; Melbourne is a UNESCO City of Literature, and the library is at its heart. Combine it with Old Melbourne Gaol for a Ned Kelly-themed morning, or walk north to Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens.