State Library Victoria (SLV)

The State Library of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world.

The softly lit Cowen Gallery is part art exhibition space, part information hub. Part of the Library’s Gateway Zone, it’s where you can ask for assistance from the staffed Gateway service point. You can also find information by browsing one of the self-service points. The gallery houses a permanent exhibition of selected artworks from the Library’s Pictures Collection. The current selection includes portraits and landscapes, and historical and contemporary works to create connections and tell new stories.

The stories and collection items presented in the Victoria Gallery change annually, providing an immersive and interactive experience for visitors and placing the best of Victoria’s many great treasures on public display.

One of the most historic parts of the Library, the Keith Murdoch Gallery is a superior exhibition space. Spaciously designed, with commanding central pillars, the gallery has hosted a varied menu of entertainment over the years, from art exhibitions and multimedia presentations to blockbuster exhibitions and installations.