State Library Victoria

328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000

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Standing
520
Seated
220

About State Library Victoria

Located in Melbourne’s CBD, State Library Victoria is Australia’s most historic public library, it boasts 19th-century heritage galleries, spacious contemporary venues and Conference Centre spaces. 

With a variety of unique venue spaces, we offer the flexibility to cater to any occasion: serve cocktails for 500 under the dome of the La Trobe Reading Room, present a refined banquet for 150 in the Isabella Fraser Room, hold an intimate dinner for 25 in a heritage Rotunda or seat 200 guests for a lecture in the Village Roadshow Theatrette. 

Whether you are organising a conference or a workshop, a formal banquet or a romantic wedding, you’ll find the ideal venue for your special event.


Venue Capacity

Room Board Room U-Shape Classroom Theatre Cabaret Banquet Cocktail
Village Roadshow Theatrette200
Seminar room 1282624603648100
Seminar room 2 and 31816301214
Seminar room 4 and 5242216401824
Queen's Hall15096120320
Red Rotunda362670486090
Experimedia250160200350
Cowen Gallery150200220400
La Trobe Reading Room520
Forecourt
Room Board Room U-Shape Classroom Theatre Cabaret Banquet Cocktail
Village Roadshow Theatrette200
Seminar room 1282624603648100
Seminar room 2 and 31816301214
Seminar room 4 and 5242216401824
Queen's Hall15096120320
Red Rotunda362670486090
Experimedia250160200350
Cowen Gallery150200220400
La Trobe Reading Room520
Forecourt

Venue Features

  • Cafe
  • AV system
  • Disabled access
  • Accommodation off-site nearby
  • Parking Off site
  • Public Transport

Function Rooms — State Library Victoria

  • M 29655 1

    Village Roadshow Theatrette

    It is a premium lecture venue with fully integrated audio visual equipment including high brightness, high definition video/data projector, 300 inch projection screen, 7:1 surround sound system and multi-setting room lights.

    Theatre 200 people
  • M 29657 1

    Seminar room 1

    The space has natural light and looks over La Trobe Street, the Conference Centre Foyer and the Library’s Genealogy Centre with original blue stone walls and lead light windows.

    Board Room 28 people
    U-Shape 26 people
    Classroom 24 people
    Theatre 60 people
    Cabaret 36 people
    Banquet 48 people
    Cocktail 100 people
  • M 29661 1

    Seminar room 2 and 3

    Seminar Room two and three can accommodate up to 16 in a U-shape configuration. The space overlooks over the Library’s Genealogy Centre with original blue stone walls and lead light windows.

    Board Room 18 people
    U-Shape 16 people
    Theatre 30 people
    Cabaret 12 people
    Banquet 14 people
  • M 29659 1

    Seminar room 4 and 5

    Seminar Room Four and Five features a ceiling fixed data projector and a screen. The space has natural light and looks over La Trobe Street.

    Board Room 24 people
    U-Shape 22 people
    Classroom 16 people
    Theatre 40 people
    Cabaret 18 people
    Banquet 24 people
  • M 6647 1

    Queen’s Hall

    Queen’s Hall is one of Melbourne’s most beautiful 19th-century interiors and features grand columns, ornate plasterwork and elaborate chandeliers. It has splendid Victorian décor and is reminiscent of the gold-rush days of the late 1800s and the era of Marvellous Melbourne. Queen’s Hall is accessed from the Library’s main foyer via a sweeping marble staircase, with walls adorned with a magnificent 1920s mural, War, by Harold Septimus Power. The venue is flexible in layout.

    Theatre 150 people
    Cabaret 96 people
    Banquet 120 people
    Cocktail 320 people
  • M 12959 1

    Red Rotunda

    Named for its plush red walls, the Red Rotunda of the Cowen Gallery makes a stunning backdrop for any intimate event. The octagonal shaped space features portraits of figures significant in the history of Victoria.

    Board Room 36 people
    U-Shape 26 people
    Theatre 70 people
    Cabaret 48 people
    Banquet 60 people
    Cocktail 90 people
  • M 6643 1

    Experimedia

    Experimedia offers designer furnishings and fittings and new media technology in a spacious bluestone-walled courtyard. A major feature of the space is the large media wall (6m x 4.5m) which can be used for audiovisual presentations. Should your numbers be smaller, the space can manipulated with furniture to ensure a comfortable floor space is available. Experimedia is a large and versatile event space that works exceptionally well as a tradeshow or expo venue.

    Theatre 250 people
    Cabaret 160 people
    Banquet 200 people
    Cocktail 350 people
  • M 6641 1

    Cowen Gallery

    The beautiful heritage Cowen Gallery houses a permanent exhibition of 150 works of art from the Library’s collection. It offers a grand and elegant setting for large cocktail parties and dinners. The Cowen Gallery is available after 6.00pm Friday to Sunday. It can accommodate up to 200 people for a sit-down dinner or 400 people for a cocktail party.

    Theatre 150 people
    Cabaret 200 people
    Banquet 220 people
    Cocktail 400 people
  • M 6645 1

    La Trobe Reading Room

    The Library’s most spectacular architectural feature, the dome, makes an impressive centrepiece for a special event. The La Trobe Reading Room is available after 6.00pm Friday to Sunday. It can accommodate up to 520 people for a cocktail party (all furniture is fixed and heritage listed). The Reading Room makes a most impressive entrance for guests and can be a stunning space for pre-dinner drinks and canapes before moving to Queen’s Hall or Experimedia for a seated dinner.

    Cocktail 520 people
  • M 6651 1

    Forecourt

    During finer weather people sprawl across the lawns. The Library truly is for all Victorians and attracts a wide demographic including workers, students, retirees and tourists. The Library’s forecourt represents a rare patch of grass within the CBD and is a highly desirable location. It is adjacent to Melbourne Central and QV shopping centres and RMIT University making it a high traffic zone. The forecourt is highly accessible and visible with trams servicing La Trobe and Swanston streets and Melbourne Central station across the road.

Specials — State Library Victoria

  • Victor Hugo Special

    Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage.

    Are you looking for a new way to say thank you to your valued clients and staff? Why not say merci beaucoup instead, with our new corporate hospitality packages. You can take your guests on an unforgettable journey to 19th-century France with an exclusive after-hours viewing of our world-first exhibition Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage. 

    These exclusive corporate hospitality experiences include a variety of French-themed catering options and are available for a limited time only.

    Don’t miss your chance to take your guests behind the scenes of Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage! Talk to us today about customising a great event for you and your guests.

    Contact Emma Davis on 8664 7327 or edavis@slv.vic.gov.au

More Information — State Library Victoria

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