BGM_The Grand Old State Library of Victoria

From its towering domed reading room to its eerie rumours of it sinking under the weight of books, the State Library of Victoria is more than just a place for quiet study-it’s a Melbourne institution. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the past, present. And future of Australia’s oldest free public library, exploring its grand origins, the influence of Justice Sir Redmond Barry, and the hidden secrets buried within its walls. Is the library really melting into the ground? What tunnels lie beneath its foundations? And the ghost of its most famous founder still wander its halls? Plus, stick around for the teaser on the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Former Police Watch Houses-where Barry’s other legacy, Melbourne’s justice system, took a much darker turn. Follow now and join us as we turn the pages on one of Naarm-Melbourne’s greatest landmarks.