The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025
EVENT DETAILSDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
28
print
Print
EducationTed TabetWed 02 Oct 19

State Library of Victoria $88m Makeover Complete

d99baa6f-45a4-4d54-b0a1-f78f86c98708

The $88 million redevelopment of one of Melbourne's most iconic buildings, the 160-year-old State Library Victoria, is drawing to a close after five years of planning and construction.

The redevelopment to increase public space by 40 per cent and seating by 70 per cent, was funded by $55.4 million by the state government alongside philanthropic contributions, including $8 million from former chief executive of Lazard Corporate Advisory John Wylie and his wife Myriam.

A consortium led by Sydney-based Architectus and Danish civic architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen were selected to design the new look library marking the second collaboration between the firms.

The practices were commissioned to design the new Christchurch City Library in New Zealand, after the former library was damaged in the 2011 earthquake.

Construction of the State Library of Victoria, which commenced mid-2017, has been overseen by privately-owned contractor Built, known for its experience in complex heritage refurbishment.

â–˛ The Vision 2020 redevelopment has responded to the changing needs of Melbourne's growing community. Image: Architectus & Schmidt Hammer Lassen


“For 163 years, the Library has been a democratic place for people of all ages and backgrounds to gather, learn and grow,” State Library Victoria acting chief executive Sarah Slade said.

“This visionary redevelopment would not have been possible without the incredible support of the Victorian Government, our generous donors and the public, who are testament to the Library’s value in a rapidly changing world.”

The first half of the refurbishment opened late last year with two new reading rooms, and new entrances on Russell Street and La Trobe Street.

The second stage, which is close to completion, includes the refurbishment of the Queen’s Reading Room which will re-open, after it’s been closed to the public since 2003, as the Ian Potter Queen’s Hall.

It will be used as a reading room during the day and a space for special events at night.

A new $2 million children’s quarter has also been created to accommodate the growing numbers of children and families visiting the library, courtesy of the Gandel family.

â–˛ The State Library of Victoria is made up of 23 individual buildings construct at various times from 1856. Image: Jeremy Foo


“After two years of construction, our beloved public building is looking forward to unveiling the last of its magnificently redeveloped spaces,” Victoria minister for creative industries Martin Foley said.

The State Library of Victoria is now the world's fourth most-visited in person, trailing only the New York, Beijing and Brooklyn public libraries.

Half of the 1.9 million onsite visitors to the library in 2017-18 were aged between 16 and 24, up from 45 per cent in 2016-17, while 25- to 34-year-olds comprised 33 per cent of visitors, up from 29 per cent the year before.

The library had become a “central servicing hub” for Victoria's international education market, the state's largest export industry.

Education remains Australia's largest service export and third overall behind iron ore (worth $62.8 billion in 2016-17) and coal ($54.3 billion). It is larger than gas ($22.3 billion) and gold ($19 billion).

EducationAustraliaMelbourneEvent
AUTHOR
Ted Tabet
The Urban Developer - Journalist
More articles by this author
website iconlinkedin icon
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Rob Stokes on Faith Land Housing Opportunities across australia
Exclusive

Salvation at Hand: Why Ex-MP is Championing Faith-Based Land Development

Renee McKeown
6 Min
Childcare shortfall EDM
Exclusive

Childcare Crunch: $4bn Shortfall Opens Door for Developers

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Adelaide old and new buildings
Exclusive

In with the Old: Why Building Coalition Says Reuse Must Trump Redevelopment

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Victoria Barracks Paddington NSW
Exclusive

Future of Inner-Sydney Megasite Under Investigation

Clare Burnett
4 Min
Improving capacity using immersion cooling instead of the traditional cooling systems used in data centres today.
Exclusive

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

Renee McKeown
5 Min
View All >
Build-to-Rent

Social BtR Project Rising on Site of Abandoned WA Tower

Lindsay Saunders
Residential

Landowners Pitch Rezoning of 742ha SEQ Rural Land

Taryn Paris
Residential

Webinar: Inside the NSW Housing Pattern Book

David Di Marco
In our exclusive one-hour presentation, hear from the leaders driving the initiative as they break it all down…
LATEST
Build-to-Rent

Social BtR Project Rising on Site of Abandoned WA Tower

Lindsay Saunders
3 Min
Residential

Landowners Pitch Rezoning of 742ha SEQ Rural Land

Taryn Paris
2 Min
Residential

Webinar: Inside the NSW Housing Pattern Book

David Di Marco
2 Min
Build-to-Rent

Boutique Build-to-Rent Pitched for Stones Corner

Taryn Paris
2 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/state-library-of-victoria-88m-makeover-complete