What's on

Looking for something fun to do, with a cultural twist? Take a look at our events and exhibitions! We host all kinds of talks, workshops, films, guided tours and more, for audiences across all age groups, including families. Our events help you get to know our amazing collections and tell the story of Victoria's history. Many events – including our exhibitions – are free.

Featured events & exhibitions

Saturday, 1 December 2018–Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Peter Wille: Out driving

Thursday, 22 August 2019 - 7:00pm–Friday, 23 August 2019 - 12:00am

White Night Melbourne 2019 at State Library Victoria

Thursday, 8 August 2019 - 10:45am–11:30am

Welcome to the Library tour

Thursday, 8 August 2019 - 11:30am–12:30pm

'World of the book' tour

bookings required

Wednesday, 3 July 2019–Friday, 4 October 2019

Australian Poetry Slam heats

All events & exhibitions

08 March 2018–19 January 2020

Self-made: zines and artist books

Discover the evolution of do-it-yourself publishing in this free exhibition of fanzines, punk zines, underground press publications and artist books designed to buck the commercial gallery system.

Cost: Free

touring exhibition

Daily

Peter Wille: Out driving

Explore this temporary exhibition showcasing images of Melbourne's architectural wonders throughout the 1950's and 1960's.

Cost: Free

Daily

World of the book

Explore a world of ideas and imagination in this exhibition showcasing the history of book design, production and illustration.

Cost: Free

Daily

The changing face of Victoria

Visit a remarkable free exhibition that tells the stories of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria.

Cost: Free

Daily

Cowen Gallery exhibition

The newly curated Cowen Gallery exhibition showcases works from the Library’s paintings collection, exploring regional and urban themes.

Cost: Free

01 July 2019–30 September 2019

Dome at dusk

Join us under the Dome at dusk for a series of specialist collection talks.

Cost: Free

bookings required

03 July 2019–04 October 2019

Australian Poetry Slam heats

Join in the excitement and register for the 2019 Poetry Slam heats!

Cost: Free

bookings required

05 August 2019–05 September 2019

Branching out

Gain the tools you need to discover more about your own family tree during this four-week online course.

Cost: Free

bookings required

22 August 2019, 10:45am–11:30am

Welcome to the Library tour

Take a free guided tour exploring the Library, daily from 10.45am to 11.15am.

Cost: Free

22 August 2019, 11:30am–12:30pm

'World of the book' tour

See highlights of the 'World of the book' exhibition on this free daily tour at 11.30am.

Cost: Free

22 August 2019, 2:00pm–3:00pm

'The changing face of Victoria' tour

Visit the La Trobe Reading Room and see highlights of the 'Changing face of Victoria' exhibition in this free guided tour. Ned Kelly's armour is temporarily off display

Cost: Free

22 August 2019, 7:00pm–23 August 2019, 12:00am

White Night Melbourne 2019 at State Library Victoria

Introducing White Night 'Reimagined' Melbourne's spectacular festival presented over 3 consecutive nights!

Cost: Free - bookings not required.

26 August 2019, 1:30pm–3:00pm

Dome to catacomb tour

Sneak a peek behind the scenes at the iconic State Library and roam the building from top to bottom in this tour.

Cost: Free

bookings required

26 August 2019, 2:00pm–3:00pm

Welfare records for family historians

Discover what kinds of records the Library holds, what they contain, who can access the records and how.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

28 August 2019, 1:00pm–2:00pm

Ned Kelly tour

Discover the story of Victoria’s infamous bushranger Ned Kelly in this free guided tour running every Wednesday and Saturday, except public holidays.

Cost: Free

bookings required

29 August 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Australian Book Design

Join guest speakers from Australia’s thriving book design community.

Cost: Free

bookings required

30 August 2019–08 September 2019

Melbourne Writers Festival 2019

Come and celebrate one of Melbourne’s favourite events here at State Library Victoria.

Cost: Free and ticketed: see full program

Bookings required

30 August 2019, 10:30am–12:30pm

Finding families

Learn the principles of family history, access research resources and tour the Family History collection in this introductory workshop.

Cost: Free

bookings required

04 September 2019, 2:15pm–3:00pm

2019 Inky Awards Ceremony

Come along to the Inky Awards ceremony the only book award voted for by teens!

Cost: Free

Bookings required

10 September 2019, 10:15am–11:15am

Newspapers and Family History Reading Rooms tour

Learn research skills to help you navigate the family history collections.

Cost: Free

bookings required

12 September 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Remembering Georges – stories from Melbourne's most elegant store

Join Annette Cooper, author of Remembering Georges as she delivers stories from Melbourne's most elegant store.

Cost: Free

Booked out

17 September 2019, 6:30pm–7:30pm

2019 Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture: Stale pale male whale yells ‘FIRE’ in crowded theatre

Join Jon Faine AM as he delivers the 2019 Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture.

Cost: Free

Booked out

18 September 2019, 10:30am–12:00pm

Researching with eresources

Learn more about how to access resources and navigate the Library's catalogue.

Cost: Free

bookings required

19 September 2019, 2:00pm–3:30pm

Accessing ebooks

Learn everything you need to know about searching and downloading ebooks to a PC or your own device.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

26 September 2019, 10:00am–2:00pm

Young Writers School Holiday Program: Building Great Characters

Discover the most crucial parts of storytelling in this workshop with Jennifer Down.

Cost: $10.00

Bookings required

26 September 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: the golden age of science fiction

Join us on an interstellar adventure, discussing the life and influence of Hugo Gernsback.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

03 October 2019, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Writers on Writers – Michelle de Kretser on Shirley Hazzard

Join Emily Bitto in conversation with Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser as they launch her new book, Michelle de Kretser on Shirley Hazzard

Cost: Free

Bookings required

04 October 2019, 10:00am–2:00pm

Young Writers School Holiday Program: Slam, Rhythm and Poetry

Explore rap, poetry and performance with Mantra, one of Australia's most respected hip-hop artists.

Cost: $10.00

Bookings required

04 October 2019, 7:30pm–10:00pm

2019 Australian Poetry Slam Victorian State Final

The search is on for Australia's 2019 poetry slam champion!

Cost: Free

Bookings required

17 October 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: A hidden treasure, no more

Join Marika Kocsis, Senior Conservator of Paper, to learn about View of the north shore, Port of Melbourne (1862) by Captain Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn (WFE) Liardet

Cost: Free

Bookings required

31 October 2019, 6:00pm–6:30pm

Dome at Dusk: Utopian visions – Dreams or nightmares?

Join us in exploring unrealised utopian visions in landscape and urban design.

Cost: Free

Bookings required

What's on

Featured events & exhibitions

Peter Wille: Out driving

White Night Melbourne 2019 at State Library Victoria

Welcome to the Library tour

'World of the book' tour

Australian Poetry Slam heats

Filter events by date

Filter by event type

Filter by cost

All events & exhibitions

Self-made: zines and artist books

Peter Wille: Out driving

World of the book

The changing face of Victoria

Cowen Gallery exhibition

Dome at dusk

Australian Poetry Slam heats

Branching out

Welcome to the Library tour

'World of the book' tour

'The changing face of Victoria' tour

White Night Melbourne 2019 at State Library Victoria

Dome to catacomb tour

Welfare records for family historians

Ned Kelly tour

Dome at Dusk: Australian Book Design

Melbourne Writers Festival 2019

Finding families

2019 Inky Awards Ceremony

Newspapers and Family History Reading Rooms tour

Dome at Dusk: Remembering Georges – stories from Melbourne's most elegant store

2019 Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture: Stale pale male whale yells ‘FIRE’ in crowded theatre

Researching with eresources

Accessing ebooks

Young Writers School Holiday Program: Building Great Characters

Dome at Dusk: the golden age of science fiction

Writers on Writers – Michelle de Kretser on Shirley Hazzard

Young Writers School Holiday Program: Slam, Rhythm and Poetry

2019 Australian Poetry Slam Victorian State Final

Dome at Dusk: A hidden treasure, no more

Dome at Dusk: Utopian visions – Dreams or nightmares?