Marcus Clarke: Literary Librarian

Marcus Clarke: Literary Librarian

September 27, 2023

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.

Victoria’s Intercolonial exhibition, 1866

Victoria’s Intercolonial exhibition, 1866

September 27, 2023

Social life & customs, Such was life, Victorian history:

The nineteenth century was the great age of exhibitions as industrialisation, colonialism and nationhood led to national and international display and celebration. In 1866 the Great Exhibition Hall was built behind Ian Potter Queen’s Hall to host the Intercolonial Exhibition.

Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

September 26, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Rare Books & Arts:

Come behind-the-scenes and learn how our conservators prepared a range of rare treasures for the new online exhibition, Beyond the Book: A digital journey through the John Emmerson Collection.

Australian football: from rectangles to ovals

Australian football: from rectangles to ovals

September 22, 2023

Ask a librarian, Sport:

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 ›

A painting shows the residents of the housing commission tower in Flemington during the temporary lockdown in July 2020.

Just digitised: High rise towers

September 22, 2023

Digitisation, Painting:

The painting ‘High rise towers’ looks at the lockdown imposed on the residents of the Flemington commission units in 2020.

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.

Isabella Fraser, a library pioneer

Isabella Fraser, a library pioneer

August 22, 2023

Our stories, People & professions, Victorian history:

For many decades, Victorian legislation discriminated against women who wanted to work at the library. Isabella Fraser was State Library Victoria’s first female staff member in 1908, and paved the way for the many women who have followed in her footsteps.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

Fred Lowen, Dunera boy.

August 16, 2023

Arts & literature, Collection spotlights, Such was life, Uncategorized, Visual arts, War:

The Dunera internees – the Dunera Boys – made a significant contribution to Australian cultural life – Fred Lowen was one of these men, read on to learn some of his story, and see his evocative artworks.
Image: The potato peelers, H91.350/8

Online Collection Spotlight: Science, Technology and Medicine, 1780-1925

Online Collection Spotlight: Science, Technology and Medicine, 1780-1925

August 11, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Find out about the evolution of scientific knowledge with Gale’s Science Technology and Medicine database.

Photo: Christian Capurro

Knitting, coding, and the stars: caring for a time-based media artwork in a library collection – Part 1

August 4, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Exhibitions:

Through a two-part blog, gain a behind-the-scenes insight into ‘Stargazing’, a contemporary multimedia artwork that was the centrepiece of the Library’s Handmade Universe exhibition. Learn about the process of preparing it for display, a preventive conservation treatment undertaken once the artwork was deinstalled, and considerations for its care and future access.

Such was life

Strange lights in the sky: The Westall UFO event, 1966

Strange lights in the sky: The Westall UFO event, 1966

April 6, 2024 6 comments

On 6 April 1966, in a quiet suburb south east of Melbourne, reports emerged of something strange in the sky…

Arts

Nineteenth century Victorians

Nineteenth century Victorians

December 31, 2023 0 comments

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