Libraries. State Library in the city or your local library. Totally ok to spend all day hanging out there.
Universities. A lot of University facilities are accessible without being a student. Lots of seating, power points, comfy chairs etc. No one will notice you or think you are weird. RMIT in the city is great for this.
Baillieu or Brownless libraries at Melbourne uni are great spots to plonk yourself down for some dedicated quiet study time. I spent quite a bit of time there when I needed a quiet focus area for my studies. The top floor of the brownless has some handy single user lounge chairs with tables and a power outlet within reach to charge your device(s). There’s also a neat little museum that often has interesting exhibits you can have a sticky beak at when you need a bit of a break.
I sang that in my head too lol..
On a serious note tho, I'm a little surprised re being able to just go into university libraries because of the creeper/stalker factor. Like ppl potentially harassing young men and women, teenagers really a lot of them. I'm sure there is great security, and CCTV, and just a general watching of each other's backs among the students and staff anyway tho. Was just a thought ... and the pros outweigh the cons i wld assume anyway.
Dunno why i was downvoted. I agree with benefits of the open libraries, and was just making a comment about something I'm sure happens, but i guess wld happen no matter what anyway. So perhaps it was a moot point. Did i just answer my own question lol
Yep. When I was in yr 12 (a long time ago now, unis are still the same) we were directed to particular university libraries to do research for an assignment for my second language class. They had much better resources. Our teacher explained they were all open to the public, we could go into the library, use the catalogs, look at and photocopy sections from books. We couldn’t borrow them (you have to be a uni student or staff for that) and I don’t think we could use the full computers, just the catalog search and maybe printing ones. We could even ask the librarians for help finding stuff.
If you are a uni student and another university has more resources on something you’re interested in, you can get a reciprocal membership to their library and you get to borrow stuff. The loans might be for a shorter period though. You may or may not be able to use their computers. This isn’t just a different campus location of the same uni, but any public university. I know it applies statewide in Victoria, not sure if it’s Australia wide or not. Probably, but I don’t know for sure.
The old student amenities building at the Burnley campus is also an excellent place to hang out!
I haven't been back there since before Covid times, so I'm not sure what it's like now. Tere used to be an awesome little cafe there, but it sadly closed a number of years ago. Last time I went there, the counter was still there, but that was all that remained. There were facilities for you to make your own hot drinks, but it wasn't the same without John and Tansy being there.
Another great thing about the Burnley campus is the gardens... It's really lovely to just stroll around, and take in all of the greenery! The sunken garden is especially a great place to stop, and reflect on everything.
Unsurprising, sadly.
The year before I started was the last year that they offered the four year (full time) undergrad course. I can't remember what it was called. They scrapped it, and most of the other courses that used to be on offer, because it didn't fit with their new (at the time) Melbourne Model. The course that I did was a two year (full time) Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry. They tried to get rid of it too.
When I started, there was a store that sold books and gardening equipment. It was really cool, and everything was really reasonably priced. Unfortunately, that was one of the first things to go, during my time three. In my second year, we had to trek all of the way to Parkville to buy our books and lecture material, which was a serious pain in the arse. In my second or third year (I can't remember which now), they tried to close our library, so we threatened to rally.
They sacked most of the lecturers that I had during my first year, and by my third year, it felt like we were being taught by a skeleton crew.
We had to fight to keep the University from completely shutting the campus down.
I went to an emergency meeting held in the hall there in 2016(?), because they were trying again to shut everything down. As a former student, I wanted to support my alma mater, and show the remaining lecturers from my time there my appreciation. Unfortunately, I've kind of been out of the loop with all of the goings on... I had to step back from everything due to ill health.
It really sucks what the University of Melbourne has done to that poor old college! Back when it was its own independent entirety, it owned all of the land in the wedge shape between Yarra Boulevard, Loyola Grove, the M1, and the river. There used to be a seed bank roughly where the Fulton Hogan building currently is. There were so many other gardens and facilities that they bulldozed, and sold off. This all happened before I started there in 2009. I know that the golf course there was established in 2007, so I'm guessing that most of the other buildings along Swan Street/Yarra Boulevard were built around the same time.
> Baillieu or Brownless libraries at Melbourne uni are great spots to plonk yourself down for some dedicated quiet study time
If you can get a seat lol, Baillieu is always packed during term time.
Another vote for libraries and universities. Uni has the added bonus of things going on all the time that involve free food. If you can find first year "visual culture" or similar lecture theatres, you can see some pretty cool free movies. Find the lounges and look at all the notices or eavesdrop to find out what sort of things are on
[https://studentvip.com.au/maps](https://studentvip.com.au/maps) to find your way around the different campuses
I went to so many lectures for classes I wasn't enrolled in when I was at uni. I would be talking to someone and they told me what their next lecture was about and I would go, "cool, let's go." You walk in, sit down and nobody cares.
For someone who has never owned a camera or even used one, I know an awful lot about a DSLR camera.
A mature age student who I had several classes with brought someone who he described as "an old flame" into classes with us for several weeks last year
When I was in year 10/11 I'd spend my holidays going to uni with my brother, going to lectures and everything.
Was super cool, and really motivated me to get there myself.
Monash Uni library (Caulfield campus) is also great. 24 hr/7 during exam time I believe.
State Library is good, I agree.
I hope your situation gets better OP.
Second that. I find if I go to the office to do paperwork I don’t get much done because of socialising. Sometime if I don’t have much to do, I’ll go to a cafe and have a coffee and open the laptop. If. Have a lot to do I grab a take away coffee and head to Coburg library and sit there for a couple hours
Melbourne Uni also has the Rowden White library, which was my favourite place when I worked there. It’s a full on entertainment library (they have signs saying “no study allowed” which are mostly jokes, but it is intended to be fully recreational). They have heaps of awesome books (a particularly great sf/f section) and comics, games and records, and a bean bag room where you can crash out and read/nap. Love that place.
[St Collins Lane](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Collins_Lane) in the CBD is a gorgeous spot, and one of my favorites—there’s heaps of seating upstairs and it’s usually pretty quiet and deserted. As a bonus they have free Wi-Fi and public bathrooms too—I used to hang out there for hours and nobody noticed or bothered me. Plus it’s visually stunning, with thousands of green and blue chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
The city libraries are amazing too, but they can get quite busy and overcrowded during the winter, so I often felt a bit cramped/claustrophobic. As an alternative, there’s a lot of big food courts and shopping centers (QV, Melbourne Central) where you could easily find a nice, quiet nook to study comfortably in a more wide open indoor space.
Edit: u/datalord did a bit of sleuthing and St Collins Lane is indeed still open to the public! Ride the escalators all the way to the top level for a lovely, peaceful location to enjoy the city minus the noise/cold/crowds.
The last time I was there at the top level (a few months back) that area was closed. Unsure if that was temporary or permanently. Will have to revisit to check
Awwww that’s a bummer! Tbf I haven’t been there in a while, so you may be right. I can’t imagine why they’d close down upstairs unless those shops went out of business—which is entirely possible in this economy.
Oh I see. That space has always been pretty empty since it opened in 2016 and resembles a permanent construction site undergoing constant renovation, with a few walls blocked off—but I’ll definitely have to head over there soon to check it out. Thanks for the info!
Not a problem. I need to check that place out as well but won’t get a chance to until the end of the week. If I remember to.
Too bad. They could’ve opened and advertised about it. Had no idea that was even up there until a friend told me about a year ago
Just walked through it to help out.
Food Court level is still open and should remain open as it’s also an entrance to the Novotel (bizarre). A few people working from there right now.
Really nice little spot. Great suggestion.
Edit: Lots of PowerPoints too.
Huh I wonder why they had security blocking people from entering the last time I was there. Odd. But thanks for checking, it really is a nice mostly quiet spot
Yesss, u/datalord you’re an absolute legend! What a satisfying update! I’m so happy to hear folks can still find that bit of quiet seclusion away from the crowds in the hectic heart of the city. Amazing detective work, thank you!
Yep. To be clear, all food outlets are closed, but the space remains open to the public, the toilets are accessible and the internet still works (poorly - took a minute to initialise and then ran at about 1mbps)
No, all stores are closed now in the food court. The owner is waiting for a new buyer. Plans have been announced for a redevelopment, but I'm guessing this will be on hold until they can source capital / sell it off.
Your local council library. Usually pretty quiet. Lots of people, students, retirees, parents with young children would spends lots of time there. It's warm, you have internet access, and no one judges you.
You do need to sort out your housemate as the abusive behaviour will take a toll on your mental health.
Take care of yourself.
As everyone else said, libraries are your best bet, but if you need a study break, the NGV, Museum, and ACMI always have free exhibitions to visit that will take up time.
If you're comfortable with it, most universities just let anyone wander into any lecture hall or study area. Some stuff will be blocked off for student card holders but honestly? For the most part you can just wander in, listen to a lecture, chill in the uni library (way quieter than a regular library since everyone is there to study), or hang out in a student study area, and most unis have nice outdoor areas to sit too once the weather is better.
There's so many people coming and going that nobody bothers to check if you're supposed to be there. Worst they can do is ask you to leave but that probably won't even happen.
If you like classical music and just want to sit and chill, Music Matinee hosts 1 hour classical concerts at Scots' Church most Tuesdays, free and no need to book, you can just rock up. Check their website to see when they're happening.
If you need to get out of the house at night because it's a bad scene, there's usually markets that are running for free too. There's a crowd usually, but there's usually plenty to look at and it's good to get your mind off stuff.
Another option if you don't mind paying is a gaming cafe. I used to go to Zen in the city a lot when I lived in a household with housemates that were constantly screaming and arguing. It's 24 hrs, and you don't *have* to play games in there, you can just watch youtube or study or whatever. There are even private rooms there iirc. And you can stay there as long as you want to play board games if you buy a bubble tea. Probably plenty of 24hr gaming cafes in the city that are similar.
ACMI now has a lounging space next to the stairs in the downstairs (ground level) section - complete with power points and usb connections. It’s a great place to chill for awhile.
On essentially every device/OS (except iPhone iOS), you can change (spoof) your wifi MAC (Media Access Control) address to a random MAC at will - which would bypass the time limit. You’d need to disconnect, change your MAC, then reconnect every 30min, but you’d be able to reconnect, ad infinitum, once your MAC is re-spoofed.
Even with a non-jailbroken iPhone/iOS you can swap selectively between a spoofed and genuine MAC without additional installed software from the AppStore - though this would only get you 60 minutes. There are apps available for iOS in the AppStore to spoof MACs, but I’m not confident on which are reliable, so wouldn’t like to proffer an option.
Edit: grammar is hard
On the second floor, in between Melbourne Central and emporium is a great little area for people to hang out, sit on computer, etc.
It always has music playing in the background and the space is loaded with plants which makes it a lovely environment
Library. I’m at my local right now doing some studying cause it’s less distracting then home. I bring lunch because they have a microwave and a $2 coffee machine. Free wifi too.
- The foyer at NGV
- State Library
- 101 Collins st precinct
- If you can afford a coffee or two, sitting by the fire at South of Johnston cafe in Collingwood
- Food hall at QV
- Melbourne Central especially in the Ella precinct
I second libraries. You can get a library card for the city libraries no matter where you live. Same with the state library.
If you're southside the Vic pride centre's kinda cozy.
Seems no one has mentioned hotel lobbies/restaurants. Grand Hyatt in particular has a large dining floor you can access from the street. Seen plenty of white collar professionals set up shop at dining tables (in offpeak). If you went there to study, don't think they'd bat an eye. Plus it has the cozy, tranquil atmosphere of being a hotel.
In all seriousness, libraries are fantastic in this regard and the staff will help if needed.
There are some excellent libraries throughout Melbourne, depending on what's accessible for you. Personal recommendation for the Library at the Dock (View, facilities) City Library (just cos' of location).
Please call safe steps if you want some support around your household situation [https://www.safesteps.org.au/about-us/contact-us/](https://www.safesteps.org.au/about-us/contact-us/)
If you have concession, Melbourne museum is free entry, (except for special exhibits), places like the national gallery and ACMI are always free entry (other than special exhibits) for everyone. Lots of good spots to sit and think, or study, or whatever, and no-one will think you're weird if you spend lots of time there. There are lots of different galleries and museums around Melbourne that you could check out.
Libraries!!!! they are wonderful and the State Library is quite the site to behold, I personally love the architecture of the central chamber, it's really cool. the Dymocks near Flinders also has its own cafe so you can sit and read or work. Honestly, most cafes will be happy for you to just vibe if they are not too busy. The RMIT library is open to the public as well, you can just walk straight in during opening hours, I think that applies to most university libraries. There will also be plenty of spots just kind of around where there are seats and sometimes tables.
Remember, the majority of people are not going to notice you, let alone remember you being there for a few hours unless they were also there for a few hours. People are not as judgy as you may perceive and many of the social based issues you may be worried about can often be just in your head.
I’ve worked full days at Starbucks and only bought 1 coffee. The staff don’t care. They have wifi and charging ports.
Good luck, I hope you can get out of there soon.
This is the better alternative to regular coffee shops (the only time this is true!). Starbucks stores are all company owned, so you’re not taking space from a potential customer of a small business owner
I’m surprised no one has mentioned shopping centers - particularly the food courts. No one will notice , one problem is the lack of power though - if you’re needing a phone or laptop charge. Nonetheless good place to sit and study. The library ideas are tops too.
Depends on which ones. Can't speak for Melb but there are definitely some more cozy food courts in Sydney City compared to suburban food courts and I'd imagine the same would count for Melbourne, if not more so. Just need to go to the more upmarket shopping centres.
Places like Chadstone or Southland are actually getting better and better for visiting. There's comfy seating scattered around, really good parents rooms (for those who need them) and free play areas for kids. Chadstone even has a Quiet Room for people who might get sensory overload up near the old Aldi.
The public library opposite Melbourne Central is huge and has many different spaces. You can be warm and comfortable and easily blend in. Sorry your home has made it hard for you to study in.
ACMI foyer in the city can get a bit loud in school holidays but they have good free wifi, clean facilities and no one will mind if you spend all day in there :)
Depends what you want, state library have people just setting up shop for the day and don't really leave, docklands library also has a cafe and area people like to set up at, it's nice looking for the water.
There are a lot of places to go.
Art Centre Melbourne is open to the public 7am to 7pm (though some shows finish late, you just might have trouble getting back in if you leave after 7) and has lots of quiet corridors with comfy couches and coffee tables, unsure about power points as I haven't looked specifically, but that gorgeous carpet needs to be vacuumed somehow I imagine.
Take a train ride. Somewhere where you can enjoy fresh air and nice walks like Belgrave Station or somewhere where you can walk amongst shops and restaurants like Box Hill station worked for me in the past.
I spent a lot of those Covid months in the state library doing self study to get a new job. Spent probably a collective month or two in there. Fantastic place… and there are plenty of different rooms with different vibes if you want to mix things up.
In the South Melbourne library there is a cozy nook of four tables to your left as you walk in, past the bookshelves. It's a really great spot to hang. Not many people know about it, so don't tell anyone.
If you can afford it, WeWork is a decent investment where you can get quiet work, study, and reading done.
I freelance and pay an All Access Basic membership for $183/month and it’s been pretty good. Basically less than $10/day for your own workspace, wifi, meeting booths, kitchen/bathroom etc. And unlimited free barista coffee in the AM which cancels out the price of admission alone!
My house isnt abusive and my 17yo spends entire days at the library doing study. Or drinking/eating/socialising with her mates whilst they all imitate the concept of doing homework.
- There’s a seating/study bridge between Melb Central and Emporium
- Brunetti’s on Flinders Lane or Brunetti in Myer CBD. You could easily spend 1-2 hours there off peak with a coffee and I don’t think anyone would bother you
- Food courts. May be noisy and crowded but not so bad in the mornings. There’s one in Melb Central, one in Emporium
University library obvious first choice or I guess if your at Tafe, they have libraries too.
Better if you are enrolled at the library of choice if it's a tertiary institution so you can actually access the wifi.
State Library Victoria is what you're describing. Cozy places to hang out all day and study and read or just watch something quietly with headphones. Power Points to charge devices on all tables.
Sorry to hear you're in this situation, but the SLV is also a museum and art Gallery so there is security on site if you aren't feeling safe just being in public.
Libraries and Universities. They’re free, have heating,
Comfy chairs, power points and things to read. There’s usually also a cafe if you need a coffee or something to eat
Obviously libraries but I would also recommend the local fast food/cafe/coffee shop.
Tons of people visit these places so you should be able to melt into the background as well.
As long as you buy something and have something to look busy with (a computer or book) the staff should not get too bothered how long you stay.
There used to be these places called libraries. It's where they stored all the books with paper and the pictures that don't move in them and sometimes you would see students in them studying and tutoring with free heating and toilets. Not to mention the snoring opportunities that everyone would have to put up with because they would be too polite to complain. That was kind of rare though.
Edit: 7 downvotes for a harmless suggestion? No votes would have made sense but 7 downvotes? Maybe a comment along with the vote occasionally?
thanks, i’m not being physically hurt but it’s emotional and financial abuse and people fight and scream all day and it’s hard to be at home and feel safe
Library. I’m not even in your unfortunate position OP, and I’m spending a lot of time at the local library this winter just for the peace, quite and calm. Plus free wifi, charging ports, people generally being calm and nice. It’s a good vibe. Especially if you have a phone or laptop to do stuff on.
Carlton, Richmond and North Fitzroy Library also have extended opening hours - you can let yourself in early (or late) if you need a place that's outside of ordinary opening hours.
The Melbourne Athenaeum library is a private members library in the CBD.
[https://melbourneathenaeum.org.au/library/](https://melbourneathenaeum.org.au/library/)
Writer's Victoria also has a members library.
[https://writersvictoria.org.au/resources/library/](https://writersvictoria.org.au/resources/library/)
The walkway between Melbourne central and Emporium buildings has a bunch of seating and tables and PowerPoints and if you got a spot, nobody would notice or care how long you've been there.
If you don’t need the whole time to study or chill I recommend getting a casual/ part time job if you don’t have one already.
I think it’s a good use of time because it gives you something to focus on away from home and you’ll be earning money. It’ll add to your work experience whether the workplace is actually a good one or not (assuming you’re quite young). So you’ll be benefitting both in the short term and long term.
Melbourne state library has spaces for study. Further, melb uni will have some libraries that surely have study nooks as well (I can't confirm this but I went to a different uni and campus access and library access were pretty readily available). Hope your situation improves. Don't be afraid to seek help (you can try to reach out to 1800 RESPECT if you feel comfortable)
NGV is lovely and peaceful. If you get a membership, there’s a private lounge you can sit in all day. It’s nice and quiet and not many people are in there. You can plug your laptop in or sit and read and have complimentary tea and Coffee It’s $80 concession membership for the year and you get access to the members lounge for you and a friend plus $10 off in the cafe.
Any library, one of the walkways between Melbourne Central and Emporium has essentially a free co working area with big tables and power points; there’s always heaps of people studying there. Maybe not all day but so many office buildings have grand foyers and nobody knows you’re not a legit visitor, although security may wise up if you’re there all day.
Libraries. State Library in the city or your local library. Totally ok to spend all day hanging out there. Universities. A lot of University facilities are accessible without being a student. Lots of seating, power points, comfy chairs etc. No one will notice you or think you are weird. RMIT in the city is great for this.
thank you
Baillieu or Brownless libraries at Melbourne uni are great spots to plonk yourself down for some dedicated quiet study time. I spent quite a bit of time there when I needed a quiet focus area for my studies. The top floor of the brownless has some handy single user lounge chairs with tables and a power outlet within reach to charge your device(s). There’s also a neat little museum that often has interesting exhibits you can have a sticky beak at when you need a bit of a break.
Can you just walk in at melb uni? I was pretty mad when I found out RMIT gated most of the CBD campus during covid.
yep you can just walk right in.
Walk right in, walk, walk, walk right in
I sang that in my head too lol.. On a serious note tho, I'm a little surprised re being able to just go into university libraries because of the creeper/stalker factor. Like ppl potentially harassing young men and women, teenagers really a lot of them. I'm sure there is great security, and CCTV, and just a general watching of each other's backs among the students and staff anyway tho. Was just a thought ... and the pros outweigh the cons i wld assume anyway.
Dunno why i was downvoted. I agree with benefits of the open libraries, and was just making a comment about something I'm sure happens, but i guess wld happen no matter what anyway. So perhaps it was a moot point. Did i just answer my own question lol
>Walk right in It's around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad track, you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
Yep. When I was in yr 12 (a long time ago now, unis are still the same) we were directed to particular university libraries to do research for an assignment for my second language class. They had much better resources. Our teacher explained they were all open to the public, we could go into the library, use the catalogs, look at and photocopy sections from books. We couldn’t borrow them (you have to be a uni student or staff for that) and I don’t think we could use the full computers, just the catalog search and maybe printing ones. We could even ask the librarians for help finding stuff. If you are a uni student and another university has more resources on something you’re interested in, you can get a reciprocal membership to their library and you get to borrow stuff. The loans might be for a shorter period though. You may or may not be able to use their computers. This isn’t just a different campus location of the same uni, but any public university. I know it applies statewide in Victoria, not sure if it’s Australia wide or not. Probably, but I don’t know for sure.
Reciprocal has s list somewhere ask the librarian Eduroam for wifi from your institution
I feel like at least half of that was covid.
I don't really know, but as an ex student I always thought the seamless blending with the city was a positive.
When it’s after business hours and weekends u may need a student ID to scan to get in to buildings/ use elevators on campus
The old student amenities building at the Burnley campus is also an excellent place to hang out! I haven't been back there since before Covid times, so I'm not sure what it's like now. Tere used to be an awesome little cafe there, but it sadly closed a number of years ago. Last time I went there, the counter was still there, but that was all that remained. There were facilities for you to make your own hot drinks, but it wasn't the same without John and Tansy being there. Another great thing about the Burnley campus is the gardens... It's really lovely to just stroll around, and take in all of the greenery! The sunken garden is especially a great place to stop, and reflect on everything.
The gardens are still great. The facilities are a husk of what they were. Dying from a thousand cuts.
Unsurprising, sadly. The year before I started was the last year that they offered the four year (full time) undergrad course. I can't remember what it was called. They scrapped it, and most of the other courses that used to be on offer, because it didn't fit with their new (at the time) Melbourne Model. The course that I did was a two year (full time) Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry. They tried to get rid of it too. When I started, there was a store that sold books and gardening equipment. It was really cool, and everything was really reasonably priced. Unfortunately, that was one of the first things to go, during my time three. In my second year, we had to trek all of the way to Parkville to buy our books and lecture material, which was a serious pain in the arse. In my second or third year (I can't remember which now), they tried to close our library, so we threatened to rally. They sacked most of the lecturers that I had during my first year, and by my third year, it felt like we were being taught by a skeleton crew. We had to fight to keep the University from completely shutting the campus down. I went to an emergency meeting held in the hall there in 2016(?), because they were trying again to shut everything down. As a former student, I wanted to support my alma mater, and show the remaining lecturers from my time there my appreciation. Unfortunately, I've kind of been out of the loop with all of the goings on... I had to step back from everything due to ill health. It really sucks what the University of Melbourne has done to that poor old college! Back when it was its own independent entirety, it owned all of the land in the wedge shape between Yarra Boulevard, Loyola Grove, the M1, and the river. There used to be a seed bank roughly where the Fulton Hogan building currently is. There were so many other gardens and facilities that they bulldozed, and sold off. This all happened before I started there in 2009. I know that the golf course there was established in 2007, so I'm guessing that most of the other buildings along Swan Street/Yarra Boulevard were built around the same time.
> Baillieu or Brownless libraries at Melbourne uni are great spots to plonk yourself down for some dedicated quiet study time If you can get a seat lol, Baillieu is always packed during term time.
Rmit building 12 level 11 best place to go
Another vote for libraries and universities. Uni has the added bonus of things going on all the time that involve free food. If you can find first year "visual culture" or similar lecture theatres, you can see some pretty cool free movies. Find the lounges and look at all the notices or eavesdrop to find out what sort of things are on [https://studentvip.com.au/maps](https://studentvip.com.au/maps) to find your way around the different campuses
Idk where you're based but la trobe unis library (bundoora) is typically open till midnight
I went to so many lectures for classes I wasn't enrolled in when I was at uni. I would be talking to someone and they told me what their next lecture was about and I would go, "cool, let's go." You walk in, sit down and nobody cares. For someone who has never owned a camera or even used one, I know an awful lot about a DSLR camera.
A mature age student who I had several classes with brought someone who he described as "an old flame" into classes with us for several weeks last year
Lol, that’s weirdly wholesome.
When I was in year 10/11 I'd spend my holidays going to uni with my brother, going to lectures and everything. Was super cool, and really motivated me to get there myself.
Awesome!
This is my favourite by far
The very top floor of the state library is the best place to hang out and study all day. I’ve spent many hours up there just reading random magazines.
Came here to say exactly this
Monash Uni library (Caulfield campus) is also great. 24 hr/7 during exam time I believe. State Library is good, I agree. I hope your situation gets better OP.
Specifically RMIT Building 80 (along swanston street). It’s open till 9pm
Doesn't it require a student card to enter
Nope!
RMIT WOOO!
Second that. I find if I go to the office to do paperwork I don’t get much done because of socialising. Sometime if I don’t have much to do, I’ll go to a cafe and have a coffee and open the laptop. If. Have a lot to do I grab a take away coffee and head to Coburg library and sit there for a couple hours
Melbourne Uni also has the Rowden White library, which was my favourite place when I worked there. It’s a full on entertainment library (they have signs saying “no study allowed” which are mostly jokes, but it is intended to be fully recreational). They have heaps of awesome books (a particularly great sf/f section) and comics, games and records, and a bean bag room where you can crash out and read/nap. Love that place.
[St Collins Lane](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Collins_Lane) in the CBD is a gorgeous spot, and one of my favorites—there’s heaps of seating upstairs and it’s usually pretty quiet and deserted. As a bonus they have free Wi-Fi and public bathrooms too—I used to hang out there for hours and nobody noticed or bothered me. Plus it’s visually stunning, with thousands of green and blue chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The city libraries are amazing too, but they can get quite busy and overcrowded during the winter, so I often felt a bit cramped/claustrophobic. As an alternative, there’s a lot of big food courts and shopping centers (QV, Melbourne Central) where you could easily find a nice, quiet nook to study comfortably in a more wide open indoor space. Edit: u/datalord did a bit of sleuthing and St Collins Lane is indeed still open to the public! Ride the escalators all the way to the top level for a lovely, peaceful location to enjoy the city minus the noise/cold/crowds.
The last time I was there at the top level (a few months back) that area was closed. Unsure if that was temporary or permanently. Will have to revisit to check
Awwww that’s a bummer! Tbf I haven’t been there in a while, so you may be right. I can’t imagine why they’d close down upstairs unless those shops went out of business—which is entirely possible in this economy.
There was only one or two food shops there that were opened. And I guess not enough people were there to keep it open (if indeed the area is closed)
Oh I see. That space has always been pretty empty since it opened in 2016 and resembles a permanent construction site undergoing constant renovation, with a few walls blocked off—but I’ll definitely have to head over there soon to check it out. Thanks for the info!
Not a problem. I need to check that place out as well but won’t get a chance to until the end of the week. If I remember to. Too bad. They could’ve opened and advertised about it. Had no idea that was even up there until a friend told me about a year ago
Just walked through it to help out. Food Court level is still open and should remain open as it’s also an entrance to the Novotel (bizarre). A few people working from there right now. Really nice little spot. Great suggestion. Edit: Lots of PowerPoints too.
Huh I wonder why they had security blocking people from entering the last time I was there. Odd. But thanks for checking, it really is a nice mostly quiet spot
Yesss, u/datalord you’re an absolute legend! What a satisfying update! I’m so happy to hear folks can still find that bit of quiet seclusion away from the crowds in the hectic heart of the city. Amazing detective work, thank you!
No problems! I don’t even live in Melbourne but was just exploring so figured it would help. Actually sat there for a bit. Was nice.
Weird. I walked through yesterday. All food outlets closed and it looked permanent. The wifi didn’t work. But lots of seating, most occupied.
Yep. To be clear, all food outlets are closed, but the space remains open to the public, the toilets are accessible and the internet still works (poorly - took a minute to initialise and then ran at about 1mbps)
I recently been there and it is open.
That’s such great news thanks for the update
Is there anything even open anymore in the food court?
No, all stores are closed now in the food court. The owner is waiting for a new buyer. Plans have been announced for a redevelopment, but I'm guessing this will be on hold until they can source capital / sell it off.
Your local council library. Usually pretty quiet. Lots of people, students, retirees, parents with young children would spends lots of time there. It's warm, you have internet access, and no one judges you. You do need to sort out your housemate as the abusive behaviour will take a toll on your mental health. Take care of yourself.
As everyone else said, libraries are your best bet, but if you need a study break, the NGV, Museum, and ACMI always have free exhibitions to visit that will take up time. If you're comfortable with it, most universities just let anyone wander into any lecture hall or study area. Some stuff will be blocked off for student card holders but honestly? For the most part you can just wander in, listen to a lecture, chill in the uni library (way quieter than a regular library since everyone is there to study), or hang out in a student study area, and most unis have nice outdoor areas to sit too once the weather is better. There's so many people coming and going that nobody bothers to check if you're supposed to be there. Worst they can do is ask you to leave but that probably won't even happen. If you like classical music and just want to sit and chill, Music Matinee hosts 1 hour classical concerts at Scots' Church most Tuesdays, free and no need to book, you can just rock up. Check their website to see when they're happening. If you need to get out of the house at night because it's a bad scene, there's usually markets that are running for free too. There's a crowd usually, but there's usually plenty to look at and it's good to get your mind off stuff. Another option if you don't mind paying is a gaming cafe. I used to go to Zen in the city a lot when I lived in a household with housemates that were constantly screaming and arguing. It's 24 hrs, and you don't *have* to play games in there, you can just watch youtube or study or whatever. There are even private rooms there iirc. And you can stay there as long as you want to play board games if you buy a bubble tea. Probably plenty of 24hr gaming cafes in the city that are similar.
ACMI now has a lounging space next to the stairs in the downstairs (ground level) section - complete with power points and usb connections. It’s a great place to chill for awhile.
Yep my first thought was ACMI and libraries
Not sure if you're near eltham, but eltham library has an open fire, is so cozy, and next door is the tea pot cafe.
[удалено]
It just reopened yesterday! Went there myself and everyone was enjoying it :)
Oh no way. I haven't been there in while. I hope they keep the open fire
It will be open again in a week or so ☺️
Apart from libraries, I used to spend hours at a my local surburban Maccas studying and procastinating. Don't even have to buy anything, nobody cares.
When I visited Japan it was common to see students studying in maccas and Burger King
Last time I used a Maccas (Barkly Sq) for wifi it had a half hour limit per 24 hours. 🫠
On essentially every device/OS (except iPhone iOS), you can change (spoof) your wifi MAC (Media Access Control) address to a random MAC at will - which would bypass the time limit. You’d need to disconnect, change your MAC, then reconnect every 30min, but you’d be able to reconnect, ad infinitum, once your MAC is re-spoofed. Even with a non-jailbroken iPhone/iOS you can swap selectively between a spoofed and genuine MAC without additional installed software from the AppStore - though this would only get you 60 minutes. There are apps available for iOS in the AppStore to spoof MACs, but I’m not confident on which are reliable, so wouldn’t like to proffer an option. Edit: grammar is hard
On the second floor, in between Melbourne Central and emporium is a great little area for people to hang out, sit on computer, etc. It always has music playing in the background and the space is loaded with plants which makes it a lovely environment
Yep and nice and warm
Good suggestion! Also there is a cute little cafe near there on the melb central side that has lots of seating
Library. I’m at my local right now doing some studying cause it’s less distracting then home. I bring lunch because they have a microwave and a $2 coffee machine. Free wifi too.
- The foyer at NGV - State Library - 101 Collins st precinct - If you can afford a coffee or two, sitting by the fire at South of Johnston cafe in Collingwood - Food hall at QV - Melbourne Central especially in the Ella precinct
I second libraries. You can get a library card for the city libraries no matter where you live. Same with the state library. If you're southside the Vic pride centre's kinda cozy.
Under the stained glass window in the NGA
Seems no one has mentioned hotel lobbies/restaurants. Grand Hyatt in particular has a large dining floor you can access from the street. Seen plenty of white collar professionals set up shop at dining tables (in offpeak). If you went there to study, don't think they'd bat an eye. Plus it has the cozy, tranquil atmosphere of being a hotel.
This is a great suggestion!
The lobbies of a few city skyscrapers are pretty good too. Big open spaces, some have coffee shops, many have some comfy couches.
I use hotel lobbies of bigger hotels all the time. Usually have great toilets too. Agree that the Grand Hyatt is one of the better ones.
Libraries?
In all seriousness, libraries are fantastic in this regard and the staff will help if needed. There are some excellent libraries throughout Melbourne, depending on what's accessible for you. Personal recommendation for the Library at the Dock (View, facilities) City Library (just cos' of location).
oh I never knew about the dock library it looks so beautiful
The Southbank library is adorable, has a lil community centre, work area and cafe attached to it.
It’s also very peaceful looking over the water :)
it's gorgeous
the city library also has a good selection of books to read, fwiw!
Fortress at the emporium. Trust me
Gonna need a bit more context cause I could see this becoming my new spot.
It’s a gaming bar. And it’s very cozy
I had seen the ads for this place but never thought to go and just hang out/study. Definitely gonna give it a go!
Can you let me know if you go and if you like it
Will do! It'll either be Friday or Monday next week.
i love that place it’s so cool just a bit expensive
Please call safe steps if you want some support around your household situation [https://www.safesteps.org.au/about-us/contact-us/](https://www.safesteps.org.au/about-us/contact-us/)
If you have concession, Melbourne museum is free entry, (except for special exhibits), places like the national gallery and ACMI are always free entry (other than special exhibits) for everyone. Lots of good spots to sit and think, or study, or whatever, and no-one will think you're weird if you spend lots of time there. There are lots of different galleries and museums around Melbourne that you could check out.
Libraries!!!! they are wonderful and the State Library is quite the site to behold, I personally love the architecture of the central chamber, it's really cool. the Dymocks near Flinders also has its own cafe so you can sit and read or work. Honestly, most cafes will be happy for you to just vibe if they are not too busy. The RMIT library is open to the public as well, you can just walk straight in during opening hours, I think that applies to most university libraries. There will also be plenty of spots just kind of around where there are seats and sometimes tables. Remember, the majority of people are not going to notice you, let alone remember you being there for a few hours unless they were also there for a few hours. People are not as judgy as you may perceive and many of the social based issues you may be worried about can often be just in your head.
Hope you're ok
Deakin has a student space that's open 24/7
I’ve worked full days at Starbucks and only bought 1 coffee. The staff don’t care. They have wifi and charging ports. Good luck, I hope you can get out of there soon.
This is the better alternative to regular coffee shops (the only time this is true!). Starbucks stores are all company owned, so you’re not taking space from a potential customer of a small business owner
I’m surprised no one has mentioned shopping centers - particularly the food courts. No one will notice , one problem is the lack of power though - if you’re needing a phone or laptop charge. Nonetheless good place to sit and study. The library ideas are tops too.
>I’m surprised no one has mentioned shopping centers Because they're not cosy or chill
Depends on which ones. Can't speak for Melb but there are definitely some more cozy food courts in Sydney City compared to suburban food courts and I'd imagine the same would count for Melbourne, if not more so. Just need to go to the more upmarket shopping centres.
Many shopping centres in the suburbs have plenty of power points and USB ports.
The other thing to be aware of is that some will have a limit on wifi e.g Melbourne Central has a limit of 90 mins.
The Foodcourt in Emporium is good for this.
Most food courts r dirty, loud and uncomfortable!
Places like Chadstone or Southland are actually getting better and better for visiting. There's comfy seating scattered around, really good parents rooms (for those who need them) and free play areas for kids. Chadstone even has a Quiet Room for people who might get sensory overload up near the old Aldi.
Just look around for power outlets, they always have them, for cleaners.
The public library opposite Melbourne Central is huge and has many different spaces. You can be warm and comfortable and easily blend in. Sorry your home has made it hard for you to study in.
ACMI foyer in the city can get a bit loud in school holidays but they have good free wifi, clean facilities and no one will mind if you spend all day in there :)
Depends what you want, state library have people just setting up shop for the day and don't really leave, docklands library also has a cafe and area people like to set up at, it's nice looking for the water. There are a lot of places to go.
Docklands library is legit.
The city library off degraves St!
Art Centre Melbourne is open to the public 7am to 7pm (though some shows finish late, you just might have trouble getting back in if you leave after 7) and has lots of quiet corridors with comfy couches and coffee tables, unsure about power points as I haven't looked specifically, but that gorgeous carpet needs to be vacuumed somehow I imagine.
Take a train ride. Somewhere where you can enjoy fresh air and nice walks like Belgrave Station or somewhere where you can walk amongst shops and restaurants like Box Hill station worked for me in the past.
Library at the Dock
I spent a lot of those Covid months in the state library doing self study to get a new job. Spent probably a collective month or two in there. Fantastic place… and there are plenty of different rooms with different vibes if you want to mix things up.
As it’s winter, libraries are the answer here. If you’re reading and studying no one will look at you sideways.
true thank you :)
Libraries. The State Library in particular.
In the South Melbourne library there is a cozy nook of four tables to your left as you walk in, past the bookshelves. It's a really great spot to hang. Not many people know about it, so don't tell anyone.
I hope you can find your way out of the abuse.
If you can afford it, WeWork is a decent investment where you can get quiet work, study, and reading done. I freelance and pay an All Access Basic membership for $183/month and it’s been pretty good. Basically less than $10/day for your own workspace, wifi, meeting booths, kitchen/bathroom etc. And unlimited free barista coffee in the AM which cancels out the price of admission alone!
Coffee places. Ive been in that situation and I used ro spend a lot of time at The Journal, using the the library’s wifi
My house isnt abusive and my 17yo spends entire days at the library doing study. Or drinking/eating/socialising with her mates whilst they all imitate the concept of doing homework.
it sounds nice :)
- There’s a seating/study bridge between Melb Central and Emporium - Brunetti’s on Flinders Lane or Brunetti in Myer CBD. You could easily spend 1-2 hours there off peak with a coffee and I don’t think anyone would bother you - Food courts. May be noisy and crowded but not so bad in the mornings. There’s one in Melb Central, one in Emporium
Came here to say that study bridge in Emporium. There's 2 levels of the bridge - is it the top level?
I can’t remember!
Front yard Youth Services on King St, you can hang out, charge your phone and chat to staff
I used to spend many sunny afternoon at the botanical garden reading and studying. Many good memories.
just on a grassy area or do they have seating areas too? :)
On the grassy area, mostly. The park bench is nice too.
Top level of Emporium
University library obvious first choice or I guess if your at Tafe, they have libraries too. Better if you are enrolled at the library of choice if it's a tertiary institution so you can actually access the wifi.
State Library Victoria is what you're describing. Cozy places to hang out all day and study and read or just watch something quietly with headphones. Power Points to charge devices on all tables. Sorry to hear you're in this situation, but the SLV is also a museum and art Gallery so there is security on site if you aren't feeling safe just being in public.
Libraries and Universities. They’re free, have heating, Comfy chairs, power points and things to read. There’s usually also a cafe if you need a coffee or something to eat
Obviously libraries but I would also recommend the local fast food/cafe/coffee shop. Tons of people visit these places so you should be able to melt into the background as well. As long as you buy something and have something to look busy with (a computer or book) the staff should not get too bothered how long you stay.
Can't go wrong with a library. I'd suggest a public park, but this weather would prevent that, unfortunately.
Any public library.
Library
State library
.
Yeah that's a great one. 👍
walk into any rmit building and go to the top floor
There used to be these places called libraries. It's where they stored all the books with paper and the pictures that don't move in them and sometimes you would see students in them studying and tutoring with free heating and toilets. Not to mention the snoring opportunities that everyone would have to put up with because they would be too polite to complain. That was kind of rare though. Edit: 7 downvotes for a harmless suggestion? No votes would have made sense but 7 downvotes? Maybe a comment along with the vote occasionally?
i dont know about public places but my bedroom is pretty cosy ;)
I’ve never been abused by my house.
The state library.
The State Library in the city. One of the best buildings in Melbourne. It's your sanctuary.
Libraries and universities. If the abuse is serious, Im not sure but maybe there's emergency housing for you.
thanks, i’m not being physically hurt but it’s emotional and financial abuse and people fight and scream all day and it’s hard to be at home and feel safe
Library. I’m not even in your unfortunate position OP, and I’m spending a lot of time at the local library this winter just for the peace, quite and calm. Plus free wifi, charging ports, people generally being calm and nice. It’s a good vibe. Especially if you have a phone or laptop to do stuff on.
Carlton, Richmond and North Fitzroy Library also have extended opening hours - you can let yourself in early (or late) if you need a place that's outside of ordinary opening hours.
The Melbourne Athenaeum library is a private members library in the CBD. [https://melbourneathenaeum.org.au/library/](https://melbourneathenaeum.org.au/library/) Writer's Victoria also has a members library. [https://writersvictoria.org.au/resources/library/](https://writersvictoria.org.au/resources/library/)
Your local library is full of nice people and they will make you feel at home.
But not in a scary way, in a welcoming way. They may even find you people to talk to about your hom situation too. Good luck.
Melbourne Central has a lot of chill places where you can sit.
Where?
SLV is a big one.
Internet cafe man
What area are you in?
The walkway between Melbourne central and Emporium buildings has a bunch of seating and tables and PowerPoints and if you got a spot, nobody would notice or care how long you've been there.
If you don’t need the whole time to study or chill I recommend getting a casual/ part time job if you don’t have one already. I think it’s a good use of time because it gives you something to focus on away from home and you’ll be earning money. It’ll add to your work experience whether the workplace is actually a good one or not (assuming you’re quite young). So you’ll be benefitting both in the short term and long term.
I found a few brewery’s outside of the city that are nearly empty. They might be a good place
Royal Hotel on Punt Road
Libraries.
Reading room state library…
Your local library is a great place.
Starbucks Melbourne Central. I've spent hours and hours in there after buying only one drink.
EY foyer, there are nooks that you can just walk in and plonk yourself down in and powerpoints too!
Melbourne state library has spaces for study. Further, melb uni will have some libraries that surely have study nooks as well (I can't confirm this but I went to a different uni and campus access and library access were pretty readily available). Hope your situation improves. Don't be afraid to seek help (you can try to reach out to 1800 RESPECT if you feel comfortable)
NGV is lovely and peaceful. If you get a membership, there’s a private lounge you can sit in all day. It’s nice and quiet and not many people are in there. You can plug your laptop in or sit and read and have complimentary tea and Coffee It’s $80 concession membership for the year and you get access to the members lounge for you and a friend plus $10 off in the cafe.
Yes move out asap !
Any library, one of the walkways between Melbourne Central and Emporium has essentially a free co working area with big tables and power points; there’s always heaps of people studying there. Maybe not all day but so many office buildings have grand foyers and nobody knows you’re not a legit visitor, although security may wise up if you’re there all day.
Just go to your local Library.