State Library of New South Wales, Research library in Sydney Central Business District, Australia
State Library of New South Wales is a research library and museum in Sydney with more than six million items, including books, manuscripts, maps, and historical photographs. The building extends across several wings, each offering different collections and reading areas for researchers and visitors.
The library was founded in 1869 when the New South Wales Government purchased the Australian Subscription Library, making it one of Australia's first public libraries. Over the decades, the collection grew substantially through donations of major private archives and estates.
The Mitchell Wing houses significant Australian collections, including First Fleet journals, Indigenous materials, and papers from early colonial governors.
The library offers free access to reading rooms and digital resources, while New South Wales residents with a library card can also use lending services. Most areas are wheelchair accessible, and staff are available to assist with research inquiries.
The library preserves original documents from HMS Bounty and extensive journals by Joseph Banks that document early Pacific explorations. These materials offer direct insight into 18th-century seafaring and scientific inquiry.
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