Articles by: Andrew McConville
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Since our opening we have looked at ways to connect with people who cannot come to our building. This includes a Travelling Library, a Country Member Postal Service and a Lending Library
Ask a librarian, Research tips:
Our VCE research guides provide a wealth of resources and research tips for several VCE units, including the new English and EAL ‘Framework of ideas’.
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Marcus Clarke, author of the great convict novel, ‘For the Term of His Natural Life’, witty and provocative journalist, bohemian, and Librarian at our Library fitted much into his eventful but short life.
As we enter AFL Grand Final week it is a good opportunity to look at a key moment in the game’s development. Beginnings Football began being played in Melbourne in… Read More ›
In 1867 Australia hosted our first Royal visitor. Prince Alfred toured the country, and toured our Library! It was a tumultuous time. Sectarian murders, riots, tragedy and finally an attempted assassination punctuated the Prince’s journey. His resilience in the face of these events won him great respect across the Australian colonies.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:
Australian Newspapers Collection (1831-2000) database has images of each page of the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald from when they were first published right up to the end of 2000.
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
In the mid 1950s, the American craze of drive-in theatres took off in Australia. A night out for the whole family without leaving the car, dressed any old how, chatting, eating, and watching a movie. What’s not to like? By the early 1980s 20 acres of prime land, given over to a drive-in only operating at night, seemed an extravagance. Several drive-ins still survive though, attracting crowds eager for the unique ‘drive-in’ experience.
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
From love affairs with kings, to political intrigue, to wild times in the Australian goldfields and cities, few have lived lives as riotous or colourful as Lola Montez.
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
There is always a romance to a bottle washed up on a lonely shore, containing a message from the past and from far away. This may be a message of greeting, of despair, for science or sometimes even a hoax.
Within months of our Library opening in 1856 gas lighting was installed to allow the Library to stay open in the evenings. However, there were some unforeseen problems, and the gas lights were later replaced by electricity.
