Photography

Nineteenth century Victorians

Nineteenth century Victorians

December 31, 2023

Photography, Social life & customs, Such was life:

The Etkins collection consists of wonderful portraits of people and places throughout 19th century Victoria.

Mysteries from the Rosenberg Collection of Vincent Kelly’s Bendigonian portraits

Mysteries from the Rosenberg Collection of Vincent Kelly’s Bendigonian portraits

August 30, 2023

Family matters, Photography:

Explore some of the mysteries in Vincent Kelly’s Bendigo photographic portraits.

Paris is always a good idea

Paris is always a good idea

March 17, 2023

Ask a librarian, Cities & towns, Photography, Reference desk:

Read about the time Paris lost itself in Melbourne. Good thing we found it and gave it back to the world! Here’s the fascinating story of a collection that everyone believed to be lost.

Send in the clowns

Send in the clowns

October 31, 2022

Performing Arts, Photography, Theatre:

Happy or sad, straight-faced or bumbling, creepy or cute, there many different kinds of clown. Join us as we take a look at some of the lesser-known clowns in the State Library’s photo collection.

Journey through the collection: Georgia Metaxas

Journey through the collection: Georgia Metaxas

May 24, 2022

Collection spotlights, Photography:

Journey through the evocative early works of Greek-Australian photographer Georgia Metaxas, and be drawn into the world of community and performance.

Journey through the collection: swinging ‘60s Melbourne through the lens of Henry Talbot

Journey through the collection: swinging ‘60s Melbourne through the lens of Henry Talbot

September 10, 2021

Collection spotlights, Photography, Visual arts:

Muse over the iconic, mid-century photographs of Henry Talbot. Featuring the fashion and advertising world of 1950s and 60s Melbourne.

The Smith Trams and Trains Collection

The Smith Trams and Trains Collection

August 6, 2020

Buildings & streets, Photography, Such was life:

The Library has recently digitised hundreds of images of Victorian trams and trains captured by a visiting enthusiast in the 1960s.

Francis Frith in exotic Middle Eastern dress

Extract from ‘True portraiture: David Roberts’ The Holy Land and Francis Frith’s Photographic prints of Egyptian antiquities’

June 27, 2019

Our stories, Painting, Photography:

Europe went crazy for all things Egyptian in the early 19th century, which helps explain why the Library’s collection includes rare works by two famous Egyptologists: painter David Roberts and photographer Francis Frith.

Aerial Views of Melbourne by Charles Daniel Pratt

Aerial Views of Melbourne by Charles Daniel Pratt

June 26, 2017

Photography:

Charles Pratt was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1891 and was cadet with the First Wellington Rifle Company. When war broke out he quickly enlisted and saw action in… Read More ›

Maggie 'Herself', Maggie Diaz, 1950-1969

Maggie Diaz: remembering a life as modern as tomorrow

February 17, 2017

Events, Photography:

Maggie Diaz was an American-born Australian commercial photographer who lived and worked in Melbourne.