The 14 Coolest Libraries To Visit In Australia

These Australian libraries are not just serving books, they’re serving looks.

As far as options go, bookworms in Australia have it pretty good. We’ve got a generous selection of cute bookstores, an array of exceptionally talented Aussie authors and even a self-guided trail dedicated just to reading. We’ve also got some wickedly good libraries, which often fly under the radar.

But as many bookish people know, the library is one of the most underrated places you can visit, whether you’re a reader or not. From award-winning architectural buildings to small community hubs and everything in between, we’ve found some of the coolest libraries in Australia.

1. Katoomba Library, NSW

Only a short drive from Sydney, the stunning Blue Mountains region is full of things to do. But you’ll want to put aside an hour or two for a visit to the local library in Katoomba. Sitting in the heart of town, it’s a beautiful place to disconnect for a while.

When designing the library, CK Design International ensured the building was fit with sufficient thermal mass, so it’s one of the cosiest places to be during winter. Nothing beats grabbing a good book and sitting in the lounging mezzanine, which offers incredible views across the mountains.

Inside Katoomba Library in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW — Head to the second floor for views over the Blue Mountains. (Image: Blue Mountains City Library)

Address: 30 Parke St, Katoomba

2. Payinthi – Prospect Public Library, SA

In 2019, a cool $18 million was injected into the development of Payinthi in Adelaide’s north. And it’s been well worth it; the hub has gone on to become an important beacon for the community. Payinthi is part library, part art gallery, part retail precinct and part cafe – the perfect day out!

The concept is the brainchild of local architecture firm JPE Design Studio. Inside, books live among colourful murals, modern flourishes and heritage brickwork thanks to the fully integrated, heritage-listed Town Hall next door. Come for the cool architecture, stay for the good books.

Exterior of Payinthi – Prospect Public Library in SA — Payinthi – Prospect Public Library is the perfect day out. (Image: JPE Design Studio)

Address: 128 Prospect Rd, Prospect

3. National Library of Australia, ACT

This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the National Library of Australia in Canberra. The huge building sits in close proximity to Lake Burley Griffin and Old Parliament House, making it the perfect pit-stop for those wanting to see the sites in Australia’s capital.

But it’s what’s inside that will entice you to visit. In the hopes of preserving national history and culture, the National Library is home to the largest collection of material relating to Australia and the Australian people in the world. Opened by then Prime Minister John Gorton in 1968, it’s a must for history buffs.

The National Library of Australia in Canberra, ACT — The National Library of Australia is surrounded by stunning sculptures. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: Parkes Pl W, Canberra

4. Ruth Faulker Library, WA

Head to the picturesque Faulkner Park in the Perth suburb of Cloverdale and you’ll stumble upon Ruth Faulkner Library. You’ll probably spot it before you even enter the park though, thanks to its striking and intricate facade by Bollig Design Group.

The building itself is located within Faulkner Park Civic Precinct’s Belmont Hub, putting it within arm’s reach of other great community spaces. Pop next door to the state-of-the-art museum or sit in the park with your recently borrowed reads to soak in the sun.

Ruth Faulkner Library in Perth, WA — The stunning Ruth Faulker Library is located within the Belmont Hub.

Address: 213 Wright St, Cloverdale

5. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, Vic

Resembling a futuristic museum more than a city library, the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is an architectural feat. The dome-shaped building with glass panelling is already photo-worthy, but head inside and you’ll be wowed all over again.

From a sleek and chic lobby to a room fully clad in red (from the carpet to the walls, the bookshelves to the chairs), it’s one of the coolest places to sit with a book. Melbourne-based ARM Architecture designed the building to pay homage to traditional libraries while creating a future-oriented space.

Geelong Library & Heritage Centre in Geelong, Victoria — The building was designed by local firm ARM Architecture.

Address: 51 Little Malop St, Geelong

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6. Mona Library, Tas

You may not be able to borrow books from the Mona Library, but it’s still a must-see when visiting Hobart. Why you may ask? Well, because you can browse the owner’s entire collection of books, of course!

David Walsh, owner of the Museum of Old and New Art, has put his beloved books on display for the public. Housed in an extension of the Round House, Mona Library boasts rare editions, signed copies, coffee-table books and celebrated classics, all under one roof. When you finish browsing, pop into Mona – it’s one of many must-do activities in Hobart.

Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Tasmania — You’ll find Walsh’s book collection inside Mona. (Image: Jesse Hunniford)

Address: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale

7. Woollahra Library, NSW

Much like a well-loved cafe or shop, there’s a queue at the door before Woollahra Library in Sydney’s Double Bay opens each day. But it’s not because there’s something to be purchased here, people just want to exist in this quiet, calming space.

Designed by BVN, the library is full of greenery. It’s a metaphor for growth and a nod to the site’s previous iteration as a heritage garden, from dangling vines of Devil’s ivy to ferns tucked beside bookshelves. The best part? There’s a hidden slippery slide inside, see if you can find it!

Inside Woollahra Library, Double Bay in Sydney, NSW — The interiors are designed to feel like a garden. (Image: Amy Piddington)

Address: 1/451 New South Head Rd, Double Bay

8. Craigieburn Library, Vic

At Craigieburn Library on Melbourne’s outskirts, it’s all about natural light. A wall of double-height, two-storey windows welcomes the outside world in. Completed by architecture firm fjcstudio, the idea was to blend the building into its surroundings and connect it with the natural environment.

Sit on one of the north-facing balconies with a book in the sun, hang out at the cafe downstairs or get a cultural fix at the onsite art gallery. There’s also a childcare centre and computer training centre, making it a hive of learning with a community-driven focus.

Craigieburn Library in Melbourne, Victoria — The library was completed by architecture firm fjcstudio.

Address: 75-95 Central Park Ave, Craigieburn

9. City of Perth Library, WA

You can’t go to the Western Australian capital without dropping by the futuristic-looking City of Perth Library. Sitting near Perth Town Hall in the newly refurbished Cathedral Square, it’s a quiet reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being a beautiful place to visit.

Known among Perth locals as an icon of the city, the library was designed by Kerry Hill Architects and opened in 2015. It has since gone on to attract over one million visitors, which is enough proof I need to add it to the bucket list.

City of Perth Library in Perth, WA — The library has gone on to welcome over one million visitors.

Address: 573 Hay St, Perth

10. State Library of Queensland, Qld

It’s high time a state library got a mention! We all knew it was coming; Australia is home to numerous stunning state libraries, with one of the best being the State Library of Queensland. It’s been a stalwart of Brisbane since it opened to the public in 1902 (it was established privately in 1896).

There’s always plenty going on here, too. From art exhibitions to reading groups, this beautiful library is always welcoming locals and tourists through its doors. It’s worth just popping in for some peace and quiet, with great views across the Brisbane River and city.

The State Library of Queensland in Brisbane, Qld — The library was opened to the public in 1902. (Image: Wojtek Gurak)

Address: Cultural Precinct, Stanley Pl, South Brisbane

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11. State Library of South Australia, SA

A well-loved icon of Adelaide’s cityscape, the State Library of South Australia has been serving the public since 1884. And with its wrought-iron balustrades, heavy wooden bookshelves and medieval-looking columns, it looks straight out of Hogwarts.

There’s so much to be seen here that you can even take a one-hour guided tour with one of the library’s passionate volunteers. Or opt to visit during an exhibition or event. Either way, this is a place that should definitely be on your list of things to do when visiting Adelaide.

The State Library of South Australia in Adelaide, SA — The interiors of the State Library look straight out of Hogwarts. (Image: Jake Wundersitz)

Address: Corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide

12. Marrickville Library, NSW

If you live in Sydney, you’ve at least heard of it. If you live in Sydney and love books, you’ve definitely visited. Of course, we’re talking about Marrickville Library in Sydney’s inner west.

The library, which was designed by Australian firm BVN, has won multiple awards over the years, and it’s not hard to see why. The building itself is worth a visit, but add in the flower-studded courtyard and onsite cafe serving up mean menu delights and it’s easy to spend all day here.

Marrickville Library exterior — Marrickville Library has won multiple awards over the years.

Address: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

13. Bunjil Place Library, Vic

Bunjil Place is a vibrant community hub in Casey, an outer south-eastern suburb of Melbourne. Not only is it home to the local library, but you’ll find a function centre, theatre, study, gallery and cafe onsite, as well as a public plaza connecting it all.

Unlike other communal facilities that often physically divide people by interest or culture, Bunjil Place has been designed by fjcstudio to bring people together. The library is a wonderful example of this, with plenty of wide-open spaces and natural light. Plus, what unites people more than a shared love of books?

Inside Bunjil Place Library in Narre Warren, Victoria — Bunjil Place has become a vibrant community hub. (Image: Helen K)

Address: 1A/2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren

14. Alice Springs Public Library, NT

Look up the definition of community in the dictionary and it may just read: Alice Springs Public Library. Near the Todd River and in close proximity to Olive Pink Botanic Garden, this little library may be small in stature, but it’s big in delivery. It’s a place for people to come together and learn, play, grow and belong.

One length of the library wall is covered in All them Tourists goin’ to look at Countryside, a hand-painted mural by talented Luritja/Pitjantjatjara artist Billy Tjampijinpa Kenda. Part of an incredible public art trail through town, it’s not to be missed.

Alice Springs Public Library exterior — Alice Springs Public Library is a place for people to come together and learn, play, grow and belong.

Address: Corner of Gregory Terrace and Leichhardt Terrace, Alice Springs

Video credit: Visit Victoria/Tourism Australia

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

There are no kangaroos back in Chicago: they’re all here in the Grampians/Gariwerd. In the heart of the Grampians National Park’s main gateway town, Halls Gap, pods of eastern greys are eating grass beside my parked rental car beneath the stars. Next morning, when I see the backyard of my rented villa on the edge of town for the first time, there are kangaroos feeding beside a slow-moving creek, lined with river red gums.

Five hundred metres up the road, 50 or so of them are eating by the side of the road in a paddock. I pull over to watch and spot three emus. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos fly overhead towards the tall green mountains just beyond town.

‘Kee-ow, keee-oww’… their calls fuse with the maniacal cackle of a kookaburra (or 10). Gawd, how I’ve missed the sound of them. Far above, a wedge-tailed eagle watches, and there you go: the ‘great birds of Australia’ trifecta, all half a kay from the town limits.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

kangaroos near Halls Gap, Grampians National Park — The park is renowned for its significant diversity of native fauna species. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

I’ve come to the Grampians to disconnect, but the bush offers a connection of its own. This isn’t just any bush, mind you. The Grampians National Park is iconic for many reasons, mostly for its striking sandstone mountains – five ridges run north to south, with abrupt, orange slopes which tumble right into Halls Gap – and for the fact there’s 20,000 years of traditional rock art. Across these mountains there are more than 200 recorded sites to see, created by the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Gunditjmara peoples. It’s just like our outback… but three hours from Melbourne.

I’ve come here for a chance at renewal after the chaos of my life in America’s third-largest city, Chicago, where I live for now, at the whim of a relative’s cancer journey. Flying into Melbourne’s airport, it only takes an hour’s drive to feel far away from any concept of suburbia. When I arrive in Halls Gap two hours later, the restaurant I’m eating at clears out entirely by 7:45pm; Chicago already feels a lifetime ago.

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

sunrise at Grampians National Park /Gariwerd — Grampians National Park /Gariwerd covers almost 2000 square kilometres. (Image: Ben Savage)

Though the national park covers almost 2000 square kilometres, its best-known landmarks are remarkably easy to access. From my carpark here, among the cockatoos and kangaroos on the fringe of Halls Gap, it only takes 60 seconds’ driving time before I’m winding my way up a steep road through rainforest, deep into the mountains.

Then it’s five minutes more to a carpark that serves as a trailhead for a hike to one of the park’s best vantage points, The Pinnacles. I walk for an hour or so, reacquainting myself with the smells and the sounds of the Aussie bush, before I reach it: a sheer cliff’s edge lookout 500 metres up above Halls Gap.

walking through a cave, Hollow Mountain — Overlooking the vast Grampians landscape from Hollow Mountain. (Image: Robert Blackburn)

There are hikes and there are lookouts and waterfalls all across this part of the park near town. Some are a short stroll from a carpark; others involve long, arduous hikes through forest. The longest is the Grampians Peaks Trail, Victoria’s newest and longest iconic walk, which runs 160 kilometres – the entire length of Grampians National Park.

Local activities operator Absolute Outdoors shows me glimpses of the trail. The company’s owner, Adrian Manikas, says it’s the best walk he’s done in Australia. He says he’s worked in national parks across the world, but this was the one he wanted to bring his children up in.

“There’s something about the Grampians,” he says, as he leads me up a path to where there’s wooden platforms for tents, beside a hut looking straight out across western Victoria from a kilometre up in the sky (these are part of the guided hiking options for the trail). “There are things out here that you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.” Last summer, 80 per cent of the park was damaged by bushfire, but Manikas shows me its regrowth, and tells me of the manic effort put in by volunteers from town – with firefighters from all over Australia – to help save Halls Gap.

wildflowers in Grampians National Park — Spot wildflowers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

We drive back down to Halls Gap at dusk to abseil down a mountain under the stars, a few minutes’ walk off the main road into town. We have headlamps, but a full moon is enough to light my way down. It takes blind faith to walk backwards down a mountain into a black void, though the upside is I can’t see the extent of my descent.

Grampians National Park at sunset. (Image: Wine Australian)

The stargazing is ruined by the moon, of course, but you should see how its glow lights up the orange of the sandstone, like in a theme park. When I’m done, I stand on a rocky plateau drinking hot chocolate and listening to the Aussie animals who prefer nighttime. I can see the streets of Halls Gap off in the distance on this Friday night. The restaurants may stay open until 8pm tonight.

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

a boat travelling along the Wimmera River inDimboola — Travelling along the Wimmera River in Dimboola. (Image: Chris McConville)

You’ll find all sorts of adventures out here – from rock climbing to canoeing to hiking – but there’s more to the Grampians than a couple of thousand square kilometres of trees and mountains. Halls Gap may be known to most people, but what of Pomonal, and Dimboola, and Horsham? Here in the shadow of those big sandstone mountains there are towns and communities most of us don’t know to visit.

And who knew that the Grampians is home to Victoria’s most underrated wine region? My disconnection this morning comes not in a forest, but in the tasting rooms and winery restaurants of the district. Like Pomonal Estate, barely 10 minutes’ drive east of Halls Gap, where UK-born chef Dean Sibthorp prepares a locally caught barramundi with lentil, pumpkin and finger lime in a restaurant beside the vines at the base of the Grampians. Husband-and-wife team Pep and Adam Atchison tell me stories as they pour their prize wines (shiraz is the hero in these parts).

dining at Pomonal Estate — Dine in a restaurant beside vines at Pomonal Estate. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Three minutes’ drive back down the road, long-time mates Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton run an eclectic cellar door out of a corrugated iron shed, near downtown Pomonal. The Christmas before last, half the houses in Pomonal burnt down in a bushfire, but these locals are a resilient lot.

The fires also didn’t stop the construction of the first art centre in Australia dedicated to environmental art in a nature-based precinct a little further down the road (that’s Wama – the National Centre for Environmental Arts), which opened in July. And some of the world’s oldest and rarest grape vines have survived 160 years at Best’s Wines, outside the heritage town of Great Western. There’s plantings here from the year 1868, and there’s wines stored in century-old barrels within 150-year-old tunnels beneath the tasting room. On the other side of town, Seppelt Wines’ roots go back to 1865. They’re both only a 30-minute drive from Halls Gap.

Salingers of Great Western — Great Western is a charming heritage town. (Image: Griffin Simm)

There’s more to explore yet; I drive through tiny historic towns that barely make the map. Still part of the Grampians, they’re as pretty as the mountains behind them: full of late 19th-century/early 20th-century post offices, government offices and bank buildings, converted now to all manner of bric-a-brac stores and cafes.

The Imaginarium is one, in quirky Dimboola, where I sleep in the manager’s residence of an old National Australia Bank after a gourmet dinner at the local golf club, run by noted chef and teacher, Cat Clarke – a pioneer of modern Indigenous Australian cooking. Just south, I spend an entire afternoon at a winery, Norton Estate Wines, set on rolling calico-coloured hills that make me think of Tuscany, chit-chatting with owners Chris and Sam Spence.

Being here takes me back two decades, when I lived here for a time. It had all seemed as foreign as if I’d driven to another planet back then (from Sydney/Warrane), but there seemed something inherently and immediately good about this place, like I’d lived here before.

And it’s the Australian small-town familiarity of the Grampians that offers me connection back to my own country. Even in the better-known Halls Gap, Liz from Kerrie’s Creations knows I like my lattes with soy milk and one sugar. And while I never do get the name of the lady at the local Ampol station, I sure know a lot about her life.

Kookaburras on a tree — Kookaburras are one of some 230 bird species. (Image: Darren Donlen)

You can be a local here in a day; how good is that? In Chicago, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. Though each day at dusk – when the kangaroos gather outside my villa, and the kookaburras and the black cockatoos shout out loud before settling in to sleep – I prefer the quieter connection I get out there in the bush, beneath these orange mountains.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Sleep beside the wildlife on the edge of Halls Gap at Serenity.

Playing there

abseiling down Hollow Mountain — Hollow Mountain is a popular abseiling site.

Go abseiling under the stars or join a guided hike with Absolute Outdoors. Visit Wama, Australia’s first environmental art centre. Check out Dimboola’s eccentric Imaginarium.

Eating there

steak, naan bread and beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap serves a great steak on naan bread.

Eat world-class cuisine at Pomonal Estate. Dine and stay at much-revered icon Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. The ‘steak on naan’ at Halls Gap brewhouse Paper Scissors Rock, can’t be beat.

Dunkeld Arboretum in Grampians National Park — The serene Dunkeld Arboretum.

For Halls Gap’s best breakfasts head to Livefast Cafe. Sip local wines at Great Western’s historic wineries, Best’s Wines, Seppelt Wines and Norton Estate Wines.

two glasses of beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Sink a cold one at Paper Scissors Rock.

The 14 coolest libraries to visit in Australia

These Australian libraries are not just serving books, they’re serving looks.

1. Katoomba Library, NSW

2. Payinthi – Prospect Public Library, SA

3. National Library of Australia, ACT

4. Ruth Faulker Library, WA

5. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, Vic

6. Mona Library, Tas

7. Woollahra Library, NSW

8. Craigieburn Library, Vic

9. City of Perth Library, WA

10. State Library of Queensland, Qld

11. State Library of South Australia, SA

12. Marrickville Library, NSW

13. Bunjil Place Library, Vic

14. Alice Springs Public Library, NT

Qantas releases over 170,000 discounted regional fares from $99

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This scenic Victorian region is the perfect antidote to city life

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Playing there

Eating there

These Australian libraries are not just serving books, they’re serving looks.

1. Katoomba Library, NSW

2. Payinthi – Prospect Public Library, SA

3. National Library of Australia, ACT

4. Ruth Faulker Library, WA

5. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, Vic

AI Prompt

6. Mona Library, Tas

7. Woollahra Library, NSW

8. Craigieburn Library, Vic

9. City of Perth Library, WA

10. State Library of Queensland, Qld

11. State Library of South Australia, SA

12. Marrickville Library, NSW

13. Bunjil Place Library, Vic

14. Alice Springs Public Library, NT

Qantas releases over 170,000 discounted regional fares from $99

The 10 best Aussie beach towns for an easy coastal getaway

Australia’s top 10 historic towns worth exploring now

The 10 Aussie towns made for nature lovers and adventure seekers

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Playing there

Eating there