State Library of New South Wales

The basics

Along with the book-lined walls of the Mitchell Library, the cultural institution also has five historic galleries in the Mitchell Wing, which host both permanent and temporary free exhibitions of everything from collections of 18th-century Australian natural history illustrations, to the diaries that Australian men and women kept during World War I. The State Library is a familiar fixture of Sydney sightseeing tours, particularly ones that cover the nearby historic district of The Rocks.

You can also see the library on one of its free tours—there’s an introductory one if you want to get to know the services and resources, as well as history and heritage tours that focus on topics such as Shakespeare, Black history, Indigenous culture, and book preservation.

Things to know before you go

• There’s free Wi-Fi available throughout the library.

• The library has its own bookstore and gift shop, plus a café where you can pick up coffee and cake or a sandwich, and an open-air Library Bar serving alcoholic drinks.

• Check out the library’s schedule of talks on literary, historical, and contemporary issues, which you can find on its website.

• You can use the library computers for up to 30 minutes without a library card.

How to get there

Set between Parliament House and the Royal Botanic Gardens on Macquarie Street, the State Library of New South Wales is just a couple of minutes away from the Martin Place train station, which is on both the South Coast and T4 lines. You can also reach the library from the St. James station, by taking line T1, 2, 3, 4, or 8, or the Blue Mountains Line.

When to get there

From Monday to Thursday, the library is open from morning until mid-evening, but closes earlier on Fridays and weekends. The library’s café and special collections also close early throughout the week, while the Library Bar opens mid-afternoon and serves drinks and snacks until late into the night.

Nearby cultural highlights

The State Library of New South Wales is surrounded by historical landmarks and cultural gems. Within a 10-minute walk from the library, you’ll find the 19th-century Art Gallery of New South Wales, home to modern and Indigenous art; the NSW Parliament government building, which offers free tours; and Hyde Park barracks, a former prison that provides insight into the living conditions of convicts during the 1800s.