Art Museum
National Library of Australia
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
National Library of Australia is an art museum in Canberra Central, Australia.
About National Library of Australia
Overview
The National Library of Australia is a premier cultural institution located in Canberra, established to serve as the world's leading documentary resource for learning about and understanding Australia and Australians. Operating from four buildings—three in Canberra and one in Jakarta—the library houses a collection of approximately 10 million items. It fulfills a national leadership role in developing collaborative online services and supports learning, creative, and intellectual endeavor, contributing to the vitality of Australia's diverse culture and heritage.
History & Founding
The library's origins date back to 1901 with the establishment of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, which served both the Federal Parliament and the nation. In 1927, the library moved from Melbourne to Canberra alongside the relocation of Parliament. A significant milestone occurred in 1960 when the National Library Act formally separated the National Library from the Parliamentary Library, creating an independent institution. This legislative change allowed the library to focus exclusively on its role as the national repository, distinct from its parliamentary functions.
Building & Architecture
The current building, opened in August 1968 on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, was designed by Brisbane-born architect Walter Bunning of the firm Bunning and Madden. The structure is described as 'Contemporary Classical,' featuring a grand, columned façade constructed of marble and granite, influenced by the Parthenon and modernist architecture. It was the first major project completed in the Parliamentary Triangle since the opening of the Provisional Parliament House in 1927. The building sits on a large podium and was listed on the Australian Heritage Register, recognized as a 'temple of erudition' with clean lines and bespoke furniture.
Collection Highlights
The library's collection spans books, manuscripts, maps, pictures, and digital resources. A cornerstone of the holdings is the James Cook collection, featuring the holograph journal of the HMS Endeavour voyage (1768–1771), which is the only journal of the first voyage written entirely in Cook's own hand. This item was the first Australian addition to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2001. The library also holds the largest Asian language collections in the Southern Hemisphere, with over half a million volumes, and extensive manuscript collections covering politics, literature, and the pastoral industry, totaling over 26 million separate items.
Significance & Services
As a national library, the institution is required by law to collect material produced by, for, or about Australians. It provides a crucial resource for understanding the Australian experience and leads the development of collaborative online services like Trove, a centralized national database aggregator launched in 2009. The library supports researchers and the public through reading rooms, free internet access, and digital services, while also preserving the nation's documentary heritage for future generations. Its role extends to managing the National edeposit service and providing access to licensed electronic resources for Australian residents.
Plan your visit
National Library of Australia
- Website
- www.nla.gov.au
What's on
- Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre4 Apr 2026 – 11 Oct 2026