The forecourt to the State Library of NSW will be transformed into a new public domain as the institution prepares to celebrate its 200-year anniversary in 2026.
The Minns Labor Government is focused on building better communities, with a new development application lodged with the City of Sydney to turn the forecourt into a new 3,400 square metre public domain.
This submission has been lodged by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) and proposes to integrate public art and native plants around a new grassed plaza, that supports library events and community activities. It will double the size of the current forecourt to create a vibrant new public space.
The works propose to realign Sir John Young Crescent and Hospital Road, improving safety for pedestrians and drivers, to provide better links to the Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain. The existing Shakespeare Memorial, originally presented to the city in 1914, will be relocated closer to the library in the forecourt area.
The State Library welcomed over one million visitors (a 30% increase on 2022/23) during the June 2024 fiscal year, with more than 300,000 readers and visitors anticipated during September and November for this year’s HSC period.
If approved, the new State Library forecourt proposal could deliver public outcomes consistent with the Macquarie Street East Precinct 20-year vision and masterplan. At the other end of Macquarie Street, early works have provided the space for another new public plaza, next to the Registrar General’s Building, to be known as QEII Place in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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Minister for Roads and Minister for the Arts John Graham said:
“The State Library of NSW is the oldest continuously operating library in Australia that remains a vital and contemporary institution loved by readers, researchers and the thousands of students who use it every day.
“The plan to create and deliver a new public space that celebrates the library’s 200-year anniversary in 2026 is another chapter in the State Library’s own story.
“Supporting the delivery of this new public domain, the proposed road and traffic changes will improve public access to other Sydney cultural institutions and this area around Macquarie Street.
Minister for Lands and Property and Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said:
“The Minns Labor Government is focused on building better communities. This project is the next step in our vision to create a vibrant, connected arts and culture destination.”
“We have submitted plans that strive to create spaces in the Macquarie Street East Precinct that are welcoming and safe for all. We want to encourage families and students to utilise our public spaces and access our free cultural institutions.”
State Librarian of New South Wales Dr Caroline Butler-Bowden said:
“The State Library is a much-loved public institution with historic spaces and galleries, world-renowned collections, and dynamic events and learning programs. It offers something for everyone – readers, families, researchers, students, local and international visitors – every day of the week.
“The new public forecourt will help grow the Library as a vibrant cultural heart of the city, inviting everyone to freely explore and enjoy this truly unique place.”
