State Library of Queensland opened to the public in 1902: moving from William Street to the Cultural Centre in Brisbane in time for World Expo 88. State Library sits on a traditional Aboriginal meeting and gathering place called Kurilpa, on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. In 2007, the building was awarded Australia’s top prize for public architecture: the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture. State Library staff conserve and digitise culturally significant images, film, audio, and paper-based items to ensure accessibility. A global cultural institution, State Library houses 42 kilometres of collections. State Library coordinates the internationally recognised First 5 Forever program that delivers strong early literacy foundations for children aged 0 to 5 years in partnership with libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres around the state (IKCs). Tennis champion Ash Barty became First 5 Forever ambassador in 2024. State Library recorded more than 6.7 million online and onsite visits during the 2024–25 financial year.
