Yellamundie at Liverpool Civic Place
Yellamundie at Liverpool Civic Place
Activating the main street
After Liverpool’s previous building was destroyed by fire, Council identified the opportunity to use a new site to activate the southern end of its main street. The shopping mall to the north, a new Civic Square to its south. It was an opportunity to make a new 21C library, unique to the City of Liverpool and inspired by its natural landscape.
Perhaps the most distinctive and beautiful feature of Liverpool is the gentle and generous curve of the Georges River. Before the arrival of the Europeans, it was known as Tuggerah. It has carried and sustained its communities and created a focal point for life-work, family and play for generations.
Inspired by the river
The new curvilinear library, Yellamundie (The Storyteller), was inspired by the river’s flow. As its sustaining arc creates eddies both calm and dynamic, so too the layers and flow of the new library create diverse spaces for everyone. The rippling surfaces of the new building invite movement and flow around it. Positioned at the end of tree-lined Macquarie Street, the curved form invites flow and movement around it through the new landscaped public space to a welcoming entry set back from the noise of the street, offering safe, shaded spaces to gather.
The curved form of Yellamundie is also intended to give a sense of gathering and embrace. Circular glazed surfaces draw in natural light, unite and wrap around the community. Each window offers glimpses into the activity within and is proportioned for an individual desk or chair framing a view of the city or landscaped horizon. Multilevel zoning supports the buzzing activity of a vibrant contemporary library while offering quiet study areas for a studious and aspirational demographic. Children and youth spaces are positioned at the very top, holding the young up high, where they are protected, valued and supported.
Ecologies of Country
The multi-level design also allows the interiors and landscape to celebrate the ecologies of Country – the riparian, lush landscapes around Georges River, the suede greys, browns and soft greens of the Cumberland Plane, and the bursts of colour from native flora and fauna.
This highly sustainable 6 Green Star building is tempered by its curved skin, enhancing natural light, framing views, shading, insulating and reducing glare. The envelope comprises five layers of glass, between which are two separate low-emissivity coatings that reflect infrared energy or heat, two Argon gas-filled continuous cavities to insulate the interior, and two separate layers of ceramic frit in distinctive horizontal patterns that give shade and reduce solar gain.
Community values
Yellamundie is a tribute to the values and aspirations of Liverpool’s community. We have sought to embody these values of inclusion, welcome, community, learning, equality and sustainability within the architecture.
Explore the interiors, urban and landscape of Yellamundie at Liverpool Civic Place.
Read more in Insights: Yellamundie Library at Liverpool Civic Place has been awarded ALIA Public Library of the Year; fjcstudio receives three International Architecture Awards; Yellamundie library among the world’s most beautiful as finalists for annual award revealed.
Quotes
| Anthony Albanese | Prime Minister of Australia, 4 April 2024 |
“This development sends a strong message about the future of Western Sydney. Liverpool Civic Place is a gift to the community.” |
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Awards
| 2026 | Australian Library and Information Association | Australian Library Design Awards, Public Library category | |
| 2025 | World Architecture Festival | Culture category, shortlist (Yellamundie Library) | |
| 2025 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) | Sustainable Architecture, shortlist | |
| 2024 | The Urban Developer Awards | Excellence in Community Engagement (nominated by Built Development) | |
| 2024 | IFLA | Public Library of the Year, finalist (Yellamundie Library and Gallery) | |
| 2024 | World Architecture Festival | Completed Buildings: Civic and Community, shortlist (Liverpool Civic Place) | |
Press
| 16 May 2026 | Inside Local Government | Liverpool library scoops top prize at design awards | |
| 8 Jul 2025 | ArchitectureAU | Dozens of Australian projects make the 2025 World Architecture Festival shortlist | |
| 17 Apr 2025 | Arch2O | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library | fjcstudio | |
| 10 Apr 2025 | gooood | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library by fjcstudio | |
| 7 Apr 2025 | ArchDaily | Liverpool Civic Place and Yellamundie Library / fjcstudio | |
| 5 Dec 2023 | ArchitectureAU | New Yellamundie library opens in Sydney | |
