iState Library of New South Wales
Founded in 1826, the State Library of New South Wales is one of the oldest libraries in Australia and holds over five million items on the nation's history and the Pacific. Its heritage Mitchell and Dixson wings sit beside a modern Macquarie Street building, together housing free public galleries that display rare manuscripts, paintings, photographs and objects from the collection. Highlights include Joseph Banks' Endeavour journal and one of the world's most comprehensive collections of First Fleet journals.
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What's On
200th Anniversary Exhibitions: Amaze Gallery
Marking the Library's bicentenary, over 200 items on display including the Endeavour journals and a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta.
Definitive Dupain
A landmark retrospective of Max Dupain's complete body of work, drawn from the Library's archive of over 250,000 negatives and prints.
Permanent Collections
The Collectors' Gallery
A permanent display of thousands of objects once held in the Library's underground stack, from sculpture busts to convict bricks.
Paintings from the Collection
More than 300 landscape and portrait paintings from the Library's collection, spanning the 1790s to today.
The Objects Gallery
Nearly 1,000 objects from the Library's realia collection, gathered over the past century, on permanent display.
Plan Your Visit
Getting there
Macquarie Street & 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Nearest station: Martin Place Station and St James Station
Show on mapHours
| Mon | 09:00–17:00 |
| Tue | 09:00–17:00 |
| Wed | 09:00–17:00 |
| Thu | 09:00–20:00 |
| Fri | 09:00–17:00 |
| Sat | 10:00–17:00 |
| SunToday | 10:00–17:00 |
Admission
Free
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Visitor Information
- Is State Library of New South Wales free to visit?
- Yes, general admission to State Library of New South Wales is free. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
- What are the opening hours of State Library of New South Wales?
- State Library of New South Wales is open Exhibition galleries: Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 9am-5pm, Thu 9am-8pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
- Where is State Library of New South Wales?
- State Library of New South Wales is located at Macquarie Street & 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia, in the Sydney CBD area of Sydney. The nearest stations are Martin Place Station and St James Station.
- What can I see at State Library of New South Wales?
- Australia's oldest library, with free heritage galleries of rare books, art and treasures on Macquarie Street. Current highlights include The Collectors' Gallery, Paintings from the Collection and The Objects Gallery.
- Do I need to book State Library of New South Wales in advance?
- State Library of New South Wales is free to enter and most days you can walk in. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
- When is the best time to visit State Library of New South Wales?
- Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Image credits
6
- State Library of New South WalesBidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Definitive DupainMax Dupain / Google Art Project, Public domain
- Museum of SydneyElekhh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hyde Park BarracksJ Bar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Art Gallery of New South WalesBidgee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 AU
- Justice & Police Museumsv1ambo, CC BY 2.0