The Parliamentary Library and 175 years of change

The Parliamentary Library is turning 175 in November 2026, having been established in 1851 on the second day of a newly formed Legislative Council. As the colony of Victoria took a step towards responsible government, the new legislators took the view that if they wanted to make sound decisions, they needed sound knowledge. Libraries can make that happen, and this one still does. Drawing on the Library’s photographic archive, along with correspondence, collections and committee minutes, this Heritage Note takes a tour through the Library’s history from its establishment to the present. 

The obvious first impression of the Library is a familiar one—ornate gold-leafed chambers, a ten-sided table custom-designed for the space, towering shelves and winding staircases. Grand as Peter Kerr’s design is, the Library’s presence in the Victorian Parliament and its ongoing history goes much further. To help a fledgling parliamentary democracy find its feet, the Library assisted in informing Victorian parliamentarians about the world but, more specifically, what they needed to know about Victoria.  

Many things have changed since 1851. The world has undergone world wars and economic downturns, and this is reflected across the Library’s history in its budgets and staffing. Changing demands upon the use of the Parliament’s premises have seen the Library’s immense collection occupy countless rooms both in Parliament House and beyond. Computerisation has had a profound effect on the way information services are provided. The paper traces the development of the Library over 175 years, including how it has both remained constant and adapted to the times.