State Library Victoria

Rosella Preserving Company

November 29, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation:

Some companies preserve and conserve food stuffs, but here in Collection Care, we preserve and conserve Victoria’s cultural heritage. Which, fittingly enough, now includes archival material from the Rosella Preserving Company, an iconic Australian business celebrated for its sauces, pickles, canned fruits, jams, soups and vegetables. ‘Rosella’ is a name familiar to many households with the colourful parrot logo adorning its products, including the pantry staple tomato sauce.

Collection Discovery is expanding

November 21, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Research tips, Tips and tricks:

We’re expanding the Collection Discovery module to include new categories and showcase many more of the Library’s fabulous digitised collections. So what are you waiting for? Begin a virtual wander through some of our artworks, photographs, posters, maps, and much more now!

VCE English, EAL & literature research guide

Getting help with VCE research

November 16, 2023

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’.

Online Collection Spotlight: Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History

November 15, 2023

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Social life & customs, Uncategorized:

What were the conditions like on the Trans-Siberian railway for women in the 1930s? Which American city was most like Melbourne in the 50s? And does anyone know what to wear to dinner when traveling first-class by ship? Learn about travel writing, but from a uniquely female perspective in the Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History database.

Top blogs of 2023

November 14, 2023

News, Our stories, Tips and tricks:

Our incredible Librarians have added more than 50 new posts to the State Library Victoria blog this year. But what posts were most beloved by our audience?

The Jerilderie Letter

November 9, 2023

People & professions, Such was life:

The Jerilderie Letter is an 8,000 word document by the notorious outlaw Ned Kelly composed in 1879. In the Letter Kelly gives his interpretation of the crimes he was accused of and subsequently convicted for. The origins, content and legacy of this document are explored in this article along with the story of how State Library Victoria acquired this historic and unique document.

The unsolved mystery of the ‘Pride of Australia’

November 3, 2023

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

In 1991, a seven-kilogram gold nugget was stolen from its display case in a daring raid on the Museum of Victoria. Speculation was rife that it was an inside job, but neither the thieves, nor the gold, were ever found.

Careful work for Howard Arkley’s ‘Casual Works’

November 1, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation:

State Library Victoria recently acquired 27 works on paper from Howard Arkley’s 1988 exhibition, Casual Works: Working Drawings, Source Material, Doodles, 1974-1987. This material forms part of a larger collection… Read More ›

‘Believe me to be your fellow laborer and friend’: The friendship between Redmond Barry and Augustus Tulk

October 24, 2023

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Sir Redmond Barry and Augustus Tulk are significant figures in the story of our State Library, as the first President and Chief Librarian. But what was their relationship like? Their personal correspondence provides an insight.

National Bird Week: Some of our birds

October 16, 2023

Collection spotlights:

On the eve of the Aussie Bird Count, explore some of the birds in our collections.

Blog