Opening hours

Each year we welcome over a million visitors to our glorious heritage building in Melbourne's CBD. If you're planning a visit, here's when we're open, how to get here and our printable Library map (pdf, 4 MB).

Temporary closure

On advice from government, we’ve made the difficult decision to close all public spaces as a preventative measure to support the health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers, as well as the broader community. Find out more

Library opening hours

Main public areas

Monday to Thursday 10am–9pm
Friday to Sunday 10am–6pm

Heritage Collections Reading Room

Daily 10am–6pm;
until 9pm on Wednesday

The Ian Potter Queen's Hall

Daily 10am to 5pm

Victoria Gallery

Daily 10am–6pm

Dome Galleries

Daily 10am–6pm;
until 9pm on Thursday

Cowen Gallery, including
North and South Rotundas

Same as main public areas except when closed for functions.

Mr Tulk cafe

Monday to Thursday 7am–5pm, Friday 7am–8pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am–4pm

Guild Cafe

Daily 10am–6pm

Readings State Library

Monday to Thursday 10am–8pm, Friday to Sunday 10am–6pm

Public holidays in 2020

Australia Day: open until 6pm, Monday 27 January.

Labour Day: open until 6pm, Monday 9 March.

Easter period: closed Good Friday, 10 April.

Open as usual Saturday 11 April and Sunday 12 April.

Open until 6pm, Monday 13 April.

Anzac Day: open until 6pm, Thursday 25 April.

Queen's Birthday: open until 6pm, Monday 8 June.

AFL Grand Final: open as usual Friday 25 September.

Melbourne Cup: open until 6pm, Tuesday 3 November.

Christmas period: open until 6pm, Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve).

Closed Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) and Monday 28 December (Boxing Day). 

From Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December we are open until 6pm.

New Year's Day: closed Friday 1 January 2021.

Standard opening hours resume on Saturday 2 January 2021.

Please note: our free guided tours of exhibitions and Library spaces do not run on public holidays.