Love doesn’t follow the rules - it rewrites them. 💌
Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations is now open.
Step inside a celebration of the brave hearts who loved boldly across centuries. Through letters, diaries, manuscripts and modern digital love stories, Rebel Heart uncovers relationships that defied the rules - across gender, borders, culture and time.
Experience these powerful histories alongside new music by Angie McMahon, Mo’Ju, Mindy Meng Wang and Amos Roach.
💘 Tap exhibitions in our link in bio to meet the rebels of romance.
What has Ned Kelly’s iconic armour, secret passages known as the catacombs, and one of Melbourne’s most photographed public spaces? We do! 🤗
Visit State Library Victoria and look up to awe-inspiring architecture spanning an entire city block, uncover the hidden treasures in our collections, explore our vibrant exhibitions and take part in our packed calendar of programs.
We’re open almost every day of the year, and always available online, ready to help you discover something new. Come and experience the wonder, creativity, curiosity and knowledge that make the Library truly extraordinary – from A to Z. 👉 Tap our link in bio to explore what's on.
Ned Kelly’s story has captivated Australia for generations — now you can experience it like never before.
Mouthful of Dust is a cinematic web experience that brings Australia’s most notorious outlaw into the 21st century. For the first time, you can explore the iconic Ned Kelly relics – his armour, rifle, boot, death mask, and the Jerilderie Letter – in extraordinary 3D detail.
Alongside the objects, hear fresh perspectives from some of Australia’s leading writers, including Grace Chan, Wesley Enoch, Nam Le, Sarah Krasnostein and Cameron Hurst.
Tap our link in bio to explore
🌈 Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
The day marks the date in 1990 that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases, and raises awareness for the discrimination that LGBTQIA+ people still face today.
It's also a moment to celebrate queer history, resilience, visibility and community.
Deep dive into the Archives of Sexuality and Gender to explore LGBTQIA+ histories through our collections. Library members living in Victoria can access the database online for free, via search and discover at the link in bio.
Discover the social movements and voices that have helped shape change.
Library Up Late returns this month for @rising.melbourne 🌙
Immerse yourself in a night of inspiration and imagination as State Library Victoria transforms into an after-dark playground of artistic expression.
✨ The iconic Dome fills with shimmering soundscapes from Cloudy Ku and Solar Cells & the New Vision System, alongside performances from MaggZ.
🎶 The Ian Potter Queen’s Hall becomes into a Concert Hall with Monica Lim, plus Concordis Chamber Choir led by Philippa Jones.
🪩 Hit dancefloor in The Quad with DJ JNETT’s Italo Disco set, followed by Elbain’s Y2K beats.
🎨 Get inspired by the Creative Acts artists in the Redmond Barry Reading Room and hear the stories behind their work.
💌 Put pen to paper and craft your own poem or letter inspired by the Library’s collection on display in Rebel Heart.
#RISING2026
📆 Friday 29 May.
🎟️ Tap what's on in our link in bio to book now.
📰 Newspapers can be complex to research.
Frequent title changes, mergers and multiple editions can make it tricky to trace their roots.
The concept of family trees for newspapers was introduced by librarian Zoe Velonis in 2005, after she tired of her newspaper orders coming back as ‘Not Founds’.
So Zoe created a series of trees mapping the genealogy of Victoria’s newspapers. More than 20 years later, these family trees remain an indispensable finding aid for librarians.
🧐 Learn how newspaper family trees can help your research, and where to find them, in our latest blog via the link bio.
✨ Salon After D’Arc returns to explore love, memory and identity through women’s voices.
Hosted by author and broadcaster Jamila Rizvi, this four-part series brings together writers, artists and thinkers for a one-of-a-kind evening, with a blend of panel discussion, live experimentation and exclusive collection viewings.
Kicking next month with Fever Dreams – an exploration of love and obsession as powerful emotional and cultural forces, featuring Dr Hannah McCann, Aurelia St Clair and Rosie Waterland.
🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for the first two events, tap what's on in our link in bio to book now
Our Salon After D'Arc series is an opportunity to delve deeper into interesting topics, make connections in the beautiful surrounds of the Library and view rare books acquired through the Women Writers Fund initiative. This event is supported by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
Our beloved World of the Book exhibition is on track to welcome one million visitors this year. 🎉
We’ve been celebrating its 20th anniversary with rare gems, bold ideas and iconic authors, through 300 treasures from the State Collection. From sacred scrolls and surrealist manifestos to ancient tablets and childhood favourites, there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’re simply curious or a devoted bookworm, World of the Book explores the stories that shape us.
📍 Plan your visit now and experience the current edition before it closes on Sunday 17 May.
📆 We’ll be temporarily closed for our annual refresh, with the 21st edition opening on Saturday 4 July.
👉 Tap exhibitions in our link in bio for more.
Step inside Vali Myers' creative process. ✨
Her many diaries were filled with sketches and memories. Around her, small treasures gathered – jewellery, found objects, keepsakes – each one a spark woven into her creative ritual.
In Creative Acts: Artists and their inspirations, step into Vali’s inner world. See the objects she kept close, the pages she returned to, and the materials that fuelled her process over a lifetime of making.
Visit to explore nearly 600 items revealing how artists transform everyday rituals, connections and collections into extraordinary work.
📅 Closes Sunday 31 May.
🎨 Tap exhibitions in our link in bio to plan your visit.
What does it mean to belong – in love, in culture, in community? 💘
Mo’ju shares their reflections on identity and connection through their musical response ‘Agapito’, created for Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations.
From forbidden romances to love across borders, the exhibition reveals powerful stories of courage and intimacy through centuries of letters, diaries and deeply personal archives.
👉 Tap stories in our link in bio for the full interview with Mo’ju.
💌 Or tap exhibitions to plan your visit to Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations.
🐨 Happy Mother's Day to all the mums and maternal figures in our lives!
We hope your day is filled with koala hugs and plenty of koala‑ty time with the ones you love. ❤️
On this day 125 years ago, the Royal Exhibition Building hosted the official opening of Australia’s first Federal Parliament.
The following day, the first sitting was held at Parliament House on Spring Street, where they remained until Old Parliament House opened in Canberra in 1927 – 26 years later.
Melbourne also stepped in as Australia’s temporary capital during that time. It’s a reminder of just how much of that early story unfolded right here in this city.
👉 Explore more history of Federal Parliament in our online research guide. Tap search and discover at the link in bio.
