State library of Victoria – the largest library in Victoria, the storage of which can accommodate more than 1, 5 million 16 thousand books and periodicals! Not surprisingly, the building, located in Melbourne, occupies an entire block near the center of the city. Among the chief treasures of the library – the journals of captain James cook.

Only two decades after the founding of Melbourne it was decided to build the library – especially insisted on this, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, Charles La Trobe. The architect was the famous Joseph reed, later built the Royal Exhibition Centre and Central hall Melbourne.

July 3, 1854, was laid the first stone in the Foundation of the future of the library. The construction lasted for 2 years, and in 1856, the library was open. The first book collection consisted of 3800 volumes, but by 1861 it was expanded to 22 thousand books. Together with the library in the same building housed the national Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museum. The gallery moved to a separate building only in the 1960s, and the Museum in the 1990-ies.

Near the main entrance of the library is a small Park with several statues and monuments, including a statue of St. George slaying the dragon; and the statue of Joan of Arc, erected in 1907. Today, this small Park is a favorite destination for students of the nearby University of Technology.

The library building was built in the classical style. Its domed reading room, opened in 1913, holds up to 500 readers. Diameter of the octagonal hall – 34, 75 meters. At the time of opening it was the largest reading room in the world.

From 1990 to 2004 in the building of the library was carried out various restoration works, which have cost the state government 200 million Australian dollars. Here was built a number of exhibition venues for temporary exhibitions, which is why the library can be considered as one of the largest exhibition halls in the world.