The ability to work remotely is a privilege but that doesn’t mean it can’t become a grind if you spend all day cooped up inside a small apartment.
Thankfully, working from home doesn’t have to always mean sitting at the same desk or dining room table.
For me, a work day may span three or four locations, starting at home before cycling to a nearby cafe to work over breakfast, decamping to one of Melbourne’s city libraries for the morning, before knuckling down after lunch in my actual office for the afternoon.
According to Melbourne’s lord mayor, Sally Capp, the number of co-working spaces opening in the city – paid or free – is growing.
“The city rhythm is continuing to evolve, and we will always welcome co-working spaces that offer greater flexibility to workers and businesses,” Capp told Guardian Australia.
So where are the best places to nab a free desk in central Melbourne? We took a look at the market.
The grand old dame: State Library Victoria
Score: 8/10
It’s probably no surprise that libraries dominate the list of locations where you can work for free, and they don’t come much bigger than State Library Victoria.
With its famed domed reading room, SLV boosted its seating capacity by 70% in 2019; it can now house almost 2,000 workers a day, which can come in handy considering more than a third of workers continue to work remotely.
But that’s a lot of foot traffic, and one of the drawbacks of the State Library is that it is a victim of its own popularity. Its high, circular ceiling and bookish ambience can focus the brain, but you may find yourself inadvertently Insta-snapped by tourists marvelling at the library’s grand neoclassical design.
Arrive prepared to navigate the crowds and don’t leave your computer unattended.
Capacity: desk space for 1,964 people.
Facilities: free wifi, free public computers, free bookable meeting rooms with presentation screens, free creative technology/software/audio studios, and free assistive technology. The library also has printers, copiers, scanners, two cafes and a bookshop.
Relaxed space with cracking views: Library at the Dock
Score: 9/10
If you want something more intimate and modern, the Library at the Dock overlooking the Victoria Harbour Promenade (and the ill-fated Southern Star ferris wheel) is an excellent workspace.
There are many different zones here, but my personal favourite is on the second floor overlooking the harbour where you can work from relaxing lounge chairs. Downstairs is more like a traditional library with tables arranged among the bookshelves. Library at the Dock encourages social working: you may not get complete silence, but its a friendly atmosphere and you can don headphones if needs be.
If you want a break from work, there’s table tennis and a makerspace with sewing machines, badge-making equipment, 3D printers and an embroidery station.
All in all, a beautiful, relaxed modern library with some of the best views of Melbourne’s Docklands promenades.
Capacity: not huge, but it’s normally not hard to find space. Caters for about 80 people spread across its ground floor reading area, quiet study room and scattered tables on the second floor.
Additional facilities available: free wifi, affordable bookable conference rooms, laptops for loan, gallery and exhibition spaces, a recording studio, creative editing suites, a children’s area, plus charging stations with adapters provided for all popular phones.
Overall winner: Narrm Ngarrgu library
Score: 10/10
Central Melbourne’s first new library in 10 years has three storeys of well-appointed workspaces as well as an Indigenous art scattered throughout and a children’s library.
Opened in November, the comfortable, ergonomic desk space shows Narrm Ngarrgu (pronounced nahrrm narr-GUW, and meaning Melbourne Knowledge in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language) has been set up with remote workers in mind. It has the feel of a well-positioned modern office – with a buzz of activity taking place around you – overlooking the Queen Victoria market in the city’s north.
Setting the space apart is its artful design, with a range of integrated works inspired by Australian native animals, from Indigenous artist Maree Clarke, as well as curated displays. These help foster a creative, vibrant atmosphere.
Capacity: the library can comfortably seat 100 people, including 40 in the reading area on level 1 and 30 in the quiet study room. There are also tables and chairs scattered throughout the library.
Additional facilities available: wifi, 10 public access computers, 24 laptops for loan, rooftop garden, podcasting studio, 3D printers, sewing machines, laser and vinyl cutting machines.
Getting some sun in the city: Federation Square
Score: 6/10
If you’re keen to get out of the library and into the sunshine, weather permitting, Federation Square provides remote working potential in the middle of the CBD.
It may not suit everyone to work alfresco but there is something distinctly urbane about firing off emails while reclining in one of the deck chairs (some with shade) in the heritage-listed square.
There is also seating inside the ACMI (screen museum) foyer, which was designed to provide comfortable nooks and crannies for the public.
Fed Square probably works best, though, as a central location to meet colleagues in a relaxed informal setting to discuss ideas, or to get small tasks done in between other city appointments.
Capacity: in the thousands for live events, but for working there are about 40 alfresco seats (that can be place under sun umbrellas). About 50 people can work inside ACMI, and there are various other nooks and cafe tables in the square that can be used as workspaces.
Additional facilities available: wifi, public toilets, drinking fountains and a prayer room.
Disco vibes: Victorian Pride Centre
Score: 8/10
Feel part of the hustle and bustle of a thriving community, complete with a gay disco soundtrack from Joy FM upstairs.
The Victorian Pride Centre offers four free booths downstairs (you’ll have to arrive early to nab one), a long shared communal desk and other small tables and couches.
Don’t expect silence here, but the community atmosphere can make a nice change from slogging it out at home. Keep in mind this is an LGBTIQ+ space so you should be at least an ally of the queer community to work here.
There’s also paid co-working facilities upstairs for those who prefer a more permanent arrangement.
Capacity: about 40 people can comfortably work in the free co-working space downstairs.
Additional facilities available: the free desks downstairs don’t come with facilities such as printing or meeting rooms. The paid space upstairs offers much more, including adjustable desks, printing and scanning facilities, soundproof booths, lockers, a kitchenette and shower.
The cafe option – tell us your favourite
All Melburnians have a favourite cafe; and remote work allows us the opportunity to break up our day by combining work and pleasure.
Etiquette dictates you should order food if you’re staying for more than about half an hour.
A few of my favourites to work in are Sorci E Morci in St Kilda (the back room is ideal for working with laptops), the CBD’s Journal cafe and Mr Tulk (close to the State Library) or, in the inner north, South of Johnson.
Let us know your favourite place to work remotely for free in Melbourne – be it cafe, library or otherwise – by commenting below.
