Book a space at Kathleen Syme
The Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre has comfortable, functional and affordable spaces for hire for community and commercial groups, The rooms and facilities can be used for:
- meetings
- community education programs
- seminars and conferences
- training
- exhibitions
- passive indoor recreational activities
- cultural events
- celebrations.
We want Kathleen Syme to be a place where programs and opportunities can be created for the community, by the community.
In line with Council’s 2024-25 budget the hire fees will change from 1 July 2024. All booking requests processed prior to close of business on Sunday 30 June 2024 will remain at the 2023-24 amounts.
Booking requests for 2025 room hire can be submitted from 9am, Friday 1 November 2024.
Venue details
Address: 251 Faraday Street Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: 1800 695 427
Kathleen Syme Library is open in line with library opening hours.
Room hire is available for hire 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm (excluding public holidays).
Tram: All tram routes to Melbourne University (72, 67, 5, 6, 64, 3/3a, 16, 1 and 8), Stop 1.
Building information and history
The building on the corner of Faraday and Cardigan streets has always served the people of Carlton.
In started its life as a school, from the 1850s when Grace Pullar's small fee paying school was established here, to its reincarnation in the late 1860s as the Faraday street common school (later to become the Faraday street State School) – the very first government school in Carlton.
Following the school's closure in 1972, the building hosted the Kathleen Syme Education Centre – a highly respected training facility for RWH nurses. It has now returned as a community centre and library for the people of Carlton.
Kathleen Alice Syme (1896-1977) was a journalist, company director and welfare worker.
Following her studies at the University of Melbourne, Kathleen became in turn a journalist and editor with The Age, founded by her grandfather David Syme. Regarded with respect and affection by the staff of The Age, she remained an active member of the board until 1971.
The restoration of the Kathleen Syme building has managed to see this 19th-century building fitted with 21st century sustainable solutions and technology.
We achieved this through:
- the use of renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal for hot water heating
- the first City of Melbourne building to be exclusively illuminated with LED lighting
- a focus on air quality through natural ventilation and indoor plants
- radiant heating and cooling and natural lighting
- rain water collection and storage and efficient water fixtures.
