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What's on

Explore our events, exhibitions, workshops and talks.

In the spotlight

A stack of children's books including Christmas titles, decorated with tinsel
2025 Bookshop late night shopping
26 Nov 2025

Get ready to sleigh your Christmas gift list at our yearly Bookshop late night shopping event!

Event
Books and authors
Bookshop event
Sepia photograph of four men and a woman having a conversation in business attire.

Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A6180, 28/8/72/59.

International students and the Australian community
02 Dec 2025

Join Dr Anna Kent for a discussion about her recent Fellowship research focused on Australia's international education history.

Event
Talks and ideas
Fellowship talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Children seated at a table doing craft activities
School holiday activity: Our Treasures, your treasures - 28 January, 10:30am
28 Jan 2026

This holidays, step into the magic of our refreshed Treasures Gallery and create your own keepsake box to store your personal treasures.

Event
Education/learning
For kids and families
School holiday event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop

Events

A stack of children's books including Christmas titles, decorated with tinsel
2025 Bookshop late night shopping
26 Nov 2025

Get ready to sleigh your Christmas gift list at our yearly Bookshop late night shopping event!

Event
Books and authors
Bookshop event
Professor Matthew Spriggs is standing in front wooden bookshelves filled with books. He is wearing glasses, a red short-sleeve shirt patterned with yellow bananas and a black hat.

Prof Matthew Spriggs

Recovering Vanuatu's indigenous literature
27 Nov 2025

Join Prof Matthew Spriggs for a discussion about his recent Fellowship research focused on the indigenous languages of Vanuatu.

Event
Talks and ideas
Fellowship talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Detail of book covers by Sue Williams and Alison Goodman featuring illustrations of women in historical dress
The craft of historical fiction
27 Nov 2025

The Friends of the Library delve into the craft of historical fiction writing with authors Alison Goodman and Sue Williams.

Event
Books and authors
Friends of the Library event
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
View all events

Exhibition

Text in a retro font reading '1975 Living in the Seventies' on a bright orange background
1975: Living in the Seventies
14 Aug 2025 - 09 Mar 2026

Look back on life in the 70s including politics, feminism, pop culture, news of the day, and more.

Exhibition
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible

Explore more

Volunteer Library tour guide smiling and greeting a tour group, made up of people of various ages, in the foyer.
Library tours
Orange, brown and white painting hung in the main reading room

Minnie Lumai (b. 1940), Yab-yab-gnerni-gnim (Sugarbag Dreaming), 2009, natural ochre on canvas ; 130 x 125 cm, Main Reading Room.

Artworks in and around the building
Two young women having morning tea at the Bookplate cafe

Bookplate cafe

Cafes
Woman browsing books on display at the Library's Bookshop
Bookshop
People reading and talking in a large, sunny room at tables, desks and computer stations

Main Reading Room

Reading rooms

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