MacFarland Library, Ormond College, library in Melbourne, Australia

The MacFarland Library at Ormond College is an eight-sided building in Melbourne with two floors and a central spiral staircase running through its core. The structure displays heavy brickwork with detailed masonry patterns on the exterior and is divided inside by brick and glass partitions into small study rooms, creating quiet spaces for students to concentrate.

The building was completed in 1965 by architects Frederick Romberg and his team, following the tradition of library designs centered around large reading halls. In 2011, McGlashan Everist architects undertook a major redesign that introduced a glass dome ceiling and recycled timber while balancing heritage preservation with modern learning needs.

The library is named after Sir John MacFarland, a former principal of Ormond College whose legacy continues to shape the institution. Today it functions as a gathering place for students, who use the cozy study nooks and shared learning spaces to work and connect with one another.

The library occupies the upper level of the Ormond College Academic Centre, reached by the central spiral staircase. The 2011 redesign added natural ventilation and night purging, so the reading rooms stay fresh during Melbourne's warm months. The octagonal plan and interior partitions help visitors find a quieter corner even when the building is busy.

The 2011 McGlashan Everist redesign stripped the interior back to a geometric steel roof truss that had been hidden above the ground-floor ceiling. The new glass dome exposes that truss and lights the core of the octagon. The same scheme won six awards in 2012, among them the National Award for Heritage and a Victorian award for interior architecture.