Archive for 2020

The riotous Williams

The riotous Williams

September 17, 2020

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Melbourne’s Elizabeth Street was once a waterway known as Williams Creek. Today, the creek runs underground, but every now and then, it returns with a vengeance…

A tale of two lions

A tale of two lions

September 16, 2020

Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:

What do Melbourne’s first amusement park, a cafe and a court case have in common? The answer may not be what you think!

Carl Van Vechten photographer QS:P170,Q312851, Roald Dahl, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roald_Dahl.jpg

Happy birthday to Roald Dahl

September 11, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

Most of us are very familiar with the wonderful stories of Roald Dahl, but did you know about his life-saving invention in the field of neuroscience?

To the land of Hope! Mid 19th century voyages from the UK to Victoria.

To the land of Hope! Mid 19th century voyages from the UK to Victoria.

September 2, 2020

Family matters:

When researching emigration and immigration, researchers mainly focus on locating ships’ passenger lists to determine the name of the ship on which ancestors sailed and the dates of departure and arrival.   Here… Read More ›

A turn around the garden: Victorian flora in the State collection

A turn around the garden: Victorian flora in the State collection

August 31, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Join us for a turn around the garden as we explore depictions of Victorian flora in the Library’s collections.

‘Dear Yat’: postcards from a prime minister

‘Dear Yat’: postcards from a prime minister

August 24, 2020

Politics, Such was life:

A small collection of correspondence provides glimpses of a life-long friendship between Yatala Ovenden and John Curtin, who met while both members of the Victorian Socialist Party.

The atomic anniversary

The atomic anniversary

August 20, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII. Explore the Library’s resources relating to this event and the nuclear age.

Melbourne celebrates Victory in the Pacific Day

Melbourne celebrates Victory in the Pacific Day

August 14, 2020

Social life & customs, Such was life, War:

Melbourne has likely never seen such an outbreak of spontaneous rejoicing and mass celebration, as it did on Victory in the Pacific Day, August 15 1945.

National Family History Month

National Family History Month

August 13, 2020

Family matters:

August is National Family History Month and  there’s no better time to delve into your family history research. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced researcher, State Library Victoria has a wealth… Read More ›

The voyage of the Hercules

The voyage of the Hercules

August 12, 2020

Family matters:

In the 19th century the voyage to Australia was long and arduous. Emigrants faced the constant threat of disease and malnutrition, the danger of storms or shipwrecks, and the possibility… Read More ›