The State Library of NSW plans massive $27 million expansion

• The State Library of NSW will get a $27 million expansion as it plans to celebrate 200 years in 2026.
• There will be a new 300-square-metre public plaza, laying the groundwork for a visionary overhaul to the Macquarie Street East Precinct.
• Plans are now in place to link institutions like The State Library of NSW and the Hyde Park Barracks over the next 20 years.

Good news for anyone who loves books, public space, or just a peace of quiet in the city: our gorgeous State Library of NSW is getting a vastly overdue expansion valued at $27 million. Central to this, a new 3000-square-metre public plaza filled with trees, grass, seating and space for up to 1,500 people. That’s double what it is right now.

Big cities need these kind of quiet, contemplative, and beautified public spaces to help break up the business of life, so the announcement has been met with plenty of cheers from locals ahead of the institution’s 200th birthday in 2026.

If you’ve ever walked past the library and wondered why the front of it looks so stark and uninviting, this is the fix. The forecourt will more than double in size and be fitted out with native plants, a new kiosk, upgraded lighting and better pedestrian access. It’s designed to be a proper gathering space. Think lunchtime reads on the grass, small concerts, cultural events, or just somewhere nicer to kill time before a gallery visit.

With Sydney’s incredible growth, both out west and in the CBD, something like this feels necessary. Yet it’s still a surprise. The building dates back to 1826 and the surrounding area has always felt undercooked. The roads around the building will be reworked to make the area safer for pedestrians and more accessible from all sides, setting groundwork for a larger 20-year plan to turn the Macquarie Street East Precinct into a vibrant cultural hub for locals and visitors.

This will be the first step towards creating tighter links between the State Library, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Hyde Park Barracks and everything else featured in this pocket of the CBD. Now that Martin Place has been reworked into the MP District, and become a great nightlife hub with vibrant restaurants and bars, it’s nice to see some love being shown to the archaic stretch of Macquarie Road.

“For almost 200 years the State Library has been a central place of learning and ideas in our city – a home to the state’s readers, writers, and researchers,” said Arts Minister John Graham.

“The vision is to reset the civic space and make entry from nearby landmarks easier and more welcoming.”

There’s no firm start date for completion just yet, but with 2026 fast approaching, we expect work should begin soon. The Library has confirmed it will stay open during the transformation.

The State Library of NSW

Address: Mitchell Library, 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney 
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (9am – 8pm); Friday (9am – 5pm); Saturday – Sunday (10am – 5pm)