History
The State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia, being the first library established in the colony of New South Wales (now a state of Australia) and Australia.
The public library started as the Australian Subscription Library in 1826. It was then bought for £5100 by the New South Wales Government in 1869 and became the Sydney Free Public Library. In 1895 it was renamed the Public Library of New South Wales until its most recent name change in 1975, when it became the State Library of New South Wales.
In December 1827 operations began in rented premises in Pitt Street and in the two years following, the Library led a peripatetic existence having been located a few years in George Street, Bridge Street, Macquarie Street and Macquarie Place. In 1845 it finally settled its own new building on the corner of Bent and Macquarie Streets.
By 1869 the subscription library was in serious debt, and the New South Wales Government was persuaded to buy it for £5100 (£1500 for the books and £3600 for the building). In September 1869, the Sydney Free Public Library opened its doors with a stock of 20 000 volumes.
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