Bigger and better library coming to Southbank in major community win

Southbank is finally getting the library it deserves, with the City of Melbourne committing more than $5.3 million in its draft 2025–26 budget to deliver a larger, modernised facility within the Boyd precinct.

The announcement marks one of the biggest community wins in this year’s draft budget, providing a long-awaited upgrade to Southbank’s overstretched library services as the suburb continues to grow at record pace.

Australia’s most densely populated suburb, Southbank is now home to more than 20,000 residents and is forecast to grow by a further 68 per cent by 2043. The library’s expansion responds to strong calls from the community for more space, longer hours and greater access to learning and social infrastructure.

The new library will be located in developer PDG’s Boyd Village development—currently under construction at the rear of the existing Boyd Community Hub on City Rd. The council secured 1000 square metres of community space within the new development as part of its planning approval in 2021, paving the way for this much-needed expansion.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the new facility would help meet rising demand and modern expectations.

“Southbank is one of the most densely populated suburbs in Australia, and it continues to grow – which is why our draft Budget 2025–26 invests $5.3 million to deliver the library residents deserve,” Cr Reece said.

“Locals have told us they need more quiet study areas, indoor bookable spaces, longer opening hours, and room for events.”

The library upgrade was prioritised following strong community feedback via the council’s 2024 neighbourhood survey, which highlighted the need for more flexible spaces, family activities and youth engagement programs. The council said it would release concept plans for public consultation in the coming months.

The new facility will free up valuable space inside the heritage-listed Boyd Community Hub, where the current library operates, allowing for new uses such as expanded meeting rooms or a larger community event space. The existing Assembly Hall within Boyd has long been considered undersized, with a capacity of only around 60 people seated.

Cr Gladys Liu, who leads the council’s Community Services portfolio, said libraries played a crucial role in community wellbeing.

“We know just how important libraries are for the community – they’re not just places to borrow books, but hubs for learning, connection and belonging,” Cr Liu said. “I’m excited to see how the plans for the new Southbank Library take shape.”

The Boyd Village development itself has not been without controversy. The City of Melbourne sold off a portion of open space at Boyd Park in 2019 to PDG for $16.5 million, despite strong opposition from the Southbank Residents’ Association and 128 public submissions.

The council defended the move at the time, citing the opportunity to secure high-quality public benefits, including the new library space. The development includes 434 build-to-rent apartments, with 40 set aside for affordable housing, and will feature a range of resident amenities such as a rooftop pool, co-working areas and social spaces.

Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for Boyd Village in 2023, then-Lord Mayor Sally Capp acknowledged lingering concerns over open space but reaffirmed the value of the library deal.

“The renovation of Boyd Library was only made possible because of this development – something that unfortunately has been forgotten and lost in the years that have passed since this project was first devised,” she said.

While the library announcement is cause for celebration among Southbank locals, residents continue to push for greater investment in public green space. The council has acknowledged the suburb’s limited open space and has actively sought opportunities to acquire more land in the area.

For now, the library expansion provides a meaningful step forward in delivering services that match Southbank’s rapidly growing population—adding new life to the heart of the Boyd precinct more than a decade after the original community hub opened in 2012.

The library’s move into the Boyd Village site is expected to open in line with the development’s completion. •