State Library of NSW
As one of Australia’s most iconic public institutions, the State Library of New South Wales is both a historical landmark and an evolving space for research, learning, and public engagement. In 2022, Winya Indigenous Furniture was engaged to support the Library in a sensitive and highly tailored refurbishment project that sought to preserve the building’s heritage character while upgrading its furniture for modern use.
Delivered through Winya’s Co-Design Program, the project required a deep understanding of both architectural preservation and the ergonomic demands of contemporary public spaces. From replicating original 1940s reading tables to designing locally made breakout furniture for back-of-house areas, the result is a cohesive blend of old and new — honouring the Library’s past while preparing it for future generations of users.
LOCATION: Sydney, NSW DURATION: Feb 2022 - May 2022
PRODUCTS PROVIDED:
Custom solid timber reading tables - with inset leather, carefully designed to replicate original 1942 reading desks in the Mitchell Reading Room
Custom upholstered benches - with imported timber side tables for public seating areas
Ergonomic task chairs - selected for long-term user comfort
Electric height-adjustable workstations - for flexible staff workspaces
Custom powdercoated metal storage solutions - designed to match the library’s interior palette
Australian-made meeting room furniture -for administrative and collaborative use
Solid timber and recycled content breakout furniture - supporting both durability and sustainability
Scope of Work
Winya was engaged to supply, manufacture, and install a range of custom furniture solutions across both public and staff areas of the Library. The scope included:
Collaborating with the State Library’s facilities and heritage teams to co-design furniture that respected the building’s historical integrity
Recreating 1940s-style reading tables based on original documentation and site photographs, using solid timber construction and inset leather to mirror the original detailing
Integrating modern power and data access into custom furniture without compromising visual authenticity
Providing ergonomic task seating and workstations in back-of-house areas to enhance comfort and productivity for staff
Ensuring all products met commercial-grade durability standards while aligning with the Library’s aesthetic, accessibility, and spatial requirements
This project was executed within a tight installation window to minimise disruption to the Library’s public operations, requiring detailed scheduling and collaboration across trades.
Bridging Past and Present
At the heart of this project was a challenge, and an opportunity, to bridge the classical elegance of early 20th century design with the technological and ergonomic standards of the 21st century.
The Mitchell Reading Room, with its grand neoclassical architecture and historical significance, served as the visual anchor for the design. Winya’s team worked closely with the Library to ensure every new element introduced into the space felt like a natural extension of its legacy. The reading tables, for example, were not merely functional replacements, but crafted tributes to the originals, built with modern joinery methods while preserving proportions, materials, and user intent.
Elsewhere, custom metal storage solutions and meeting tables brought a restrained contemporary feel, using neutral tones, natural materials, and clean lines to subtly complement the historical environment rather than compete with it.
This tension, between reverence for the past and readiness for the future, was resolved through the Co-Design process, where feedback loops between the client and Winya’s design team allowed each piece to evolve in step with the broader vision for the space.
Outcome
The completed furniture package has contributed to a seamless and dignified refresh of one of NSW’s most cherished civic buildings. The public now enjoys comfortable, historically resonant reading tables and seating in the Mitchell Room, while staff benefit from ergonomic, sustainable furnishings behind the scenes. The result is a Library space that quietly respects its past while confidently serving its present-day users; a project that exemplifies the power of collaborative design and purpose-led manufacturing.
Sustainability and Local Manufacturing
Aligned with the State Library’s sustainability commitments, Winya supplied locally manufactured furniture wherever possible, with several pieces using recycled content and FSC-certified timbers. By working with Australian suppliers and controlling the manufacturing process, Winya ensured a reduced carbon footprint and greater quality control throughout the project.
This approach also supported Winya’s broader mission of advancing Indigenous economic participation in commercial and government supply chains. Through skilled Indigenous employment and partnerships with local artisans and fabricators, the project demonstrated how high-quality, heritage-sensitive outcomes can also reflect socially conscious procurement.
The Mitchell Library Reading Room in 1943 (Credit: State Library of NSW)
Contact us.
Info@winya.com.au
1300 184 799
Showrooms in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Darwin.