State Library

The State Library of Victoria was first established in 1854 and was built by Ancher Mortlock & Woolley. The original building underwent major refurbishments between 1990 and 2004. Building the finished product costed approximately 200 million Australian dollars. This library was one of the first free public libraries and is the oldest public library in Australia. Later changed to being named the Queens Hall, was originally the Queens Reading Room. The library has many rooms such as galleries, reading rooms, study rooms and there is a chess room with historical chess items. No longer remaining, their of bronze lions were placed out the front of the library as a welcome. These lions remained there from the 1860’s until 1937, when they were removed.