Articles by: admin

A little history of Queen’s Hall

A little history of Queen’s Hall

May 22, 2023

Our stories:

‘The Queen’s Reading Room’ opened on 24 May 1859 when the south wing of the Library was completed. Restoration works began in 2017 and in 2019, the space was re-opened to the public as the Ian Potter Queen’s Hall.

The day the Sea Fury came to visit

The day the Sea Fury came to visit

May 18, 2020

Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:

It’s not every day that you see an aeroplane parked outside the Library, but this was the sight that greeted Victorians when they came to visit in 1953.

Olivia Muscat, Volunteer Storyteller

Meet Olivia Muscat, Volunteer Storyteller

May 18, 2020

About us, News, Our stories:

Meet Olivia Muscat, writer, theatre critic, disability advocate,
educator, 2020 recipient of the Lesley Hall scholarship and Family
Programs volunteer!

Make your own 19th-century paper puppy

Make your own 19th-century paper puppy

April 17, 2020

Our stories:

Today we paws to celebrate the work of 19th-century Australian artist ST Gill, the subject of our new exhibition Australian sketchbook: Colonial life and the art of ST Gill.

A considered approach to the conservation of the McCrae family collection

A considered approach to the conservation of the McCrae family collection

September 17, 2019

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories:

Kathleen Rowbottom, Professional Placement, Conservation, Collections Care. The papers of the McCrae family collection are extensive and feature a range of different objects: from bound volumes such as scrapbooks, diaries… Read More ›

A hidden treasure, no more: Conservation treatment of ‘View of the north shore’

A hidden treasure, no more: Conservation treatment of ‘View of the north shore’

April 18, 2019

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories:

Conservation treatment has returned strength and aesthetic unity to this vibrant watercolour, allowing this important artwork to be appreciated by the public once more.

Evolution of a fiery redhead

Evolution of a fiery redhead

April 4, 2019

Our stories:

One of the most enduring figures in Australian popular culture is ‘Miss Redhead’, who first appeared on the Bryant and May Redheads matchbox label in 1947.

Hang ten with Rennie Ellis

Hang ten with Rennie Ellis

April 2, 2019

Our stories, Sport:

Rennie Ellis combined his two true loves of surfing and photography when he captured the thrills of the annual Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. A dozen of Ellis’s surf photographs are featured in The changing face of Victoria exhibition, ranging from 1970 to the mid-’80s.

A darkroom on wheels

A darkroom on wheels

March 27, 2019

Cities & towns, Such was life:

An itinerant immigrant from Scotland took some fascinating photos of the Western District in the 1850s.

Melbourne’s lost department stores

Melbourne’s lost department stores

March 6, 2019

Buildings & streets, Our stories, Social life & customs:

Melbourne and shopping have been hand in glove since the 1880s, and at its peak the city flaunted more than a dozen department stores.