Stories | State Library Victoria

Plan your visit

World of the Book / Free exhibition, open daily

Travel through the Library and unearth what will be on display in 2026's chapter of World of the Book.

Comedian Matt Okine explores the Library’s extraordinary football archives.

Dive into the Library's largest ever conservation project: William Butterfield’s original architectural drawings of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Photograph of Amos Roach

Award-winning musician, dancer and director Amos Roach shares the story of his parents Archie and Ruby through music.

Photograph of musician Mo'Ju

Multidisciplinary artist Mo’Ju finds inspiration for a song in a letter to Minister for Immigration Harold Holt written in 1950.

Mindy Meng Wang playing guzheng at State Library Victoria

Guzheng player Mindy Meng Wang discusses the process behind composing ‘Unsent Letter’, inspired by a love letter found hidden behind a painting in the Library.

Get to know Alita Brydon, creator of Bad Dates of Melbourne, as she prepares to host upcoming night of comedy and commiseration This Is Why I’m Single at State Library Victoria.

A portrait of Angie McMahon

Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon on the extraordinary love story of Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb and her original song inspired by their bond.

Lithograph showing facade of Melbourne's Public Library c.1858, featuring Joseph Reed's design for the whole facade with the two corner pavilions.

The Library’s foundation stones were set in July 1854 and the doors opened in February 1856. We look back on 170 years.

Discover a wide range of learning, publishing and development opportunities, as well as prizes and fellowships, for young writers.

Black and white photograph of author Peter Carey working on a laptop in his study, which feature floor-to-ceiling bookshelves spanning one wall.

Direct from New York, Peter Carey joins host Michael Williams for an exclusive online interview about his creative practice.

Professor Peter Kornicki takes us on a journey through Japan’s printing history for the 2025 Foxcroft Lecture.

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