The State Library of New South Wales traces its origins back to 1826. Work on the Mitchell Wing started in 1906 and was completed in 1910. This wing now houses the Mitchell Library reading rooms, work areas and galleries.
The Dixson Wing, completed in 1929, was added to the south side of the Mitchell Wing to provide storage and gallery space for the extensive collection of historical paintings presented by Sir William Dixson.
In 1939 work began on the central portion of the building, which includes the portico, the ornate Vestibule, with its floor reproduction of the Tasman Map in marble mosaic, and the main reading room. The building was completed in June 1942.
In 1964, the final section of the sandstone Mitchell Wing, uniform in style, was added to the south east corner. Within 10 years the Library had outgrown this space too.
Work began on the Macquarie Street Wing in 1983 and it was opened in 1988. The new building fronts Macquarie Street and links to the Mitchell Wing above ground by an unobtrusive first floor bridge and below ground at a number of points.