Victoria’s first state funeral
People & professions, Such was life:
One hundred and fifty years ago Melbourne came to a standstill for the funeral procession of Robert O’Hara Burke (1821-1861) and William John Wills (1834-1861).
Articles by: News Editor
Sleeping Beauty: on the stage and on the page
With Richard Gill’s Sleeping Beauty pantomime about to hit the stage for the Victorian Opera, the State Library of Victoria’s Children’s Research Librarian, Juliet O’Conor, takes us through the history… Read More ›
‘Death ballots’: Australia’s World War I conscription referendums
On 28 October 1916 the first of two controversial conscription referendums was held in Australia. Military training for men between 18 and 60 had been compulsory since 1911, but the… Read More ›
A Koori protest against the Nazis
Kristallachnacht (also known as ‘The night of broken glass’, 9-10 November 1938) was a major escalation in the persecution of the Jews in Germany by the Nazi government. Nearly 100… Read More ›
Secret histories of queer Melbourne
Social life & customs, Such was life:
This new publication from the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives is an eye-opening and immensely readable introduction to Melbourne’s queer scenes, both private and public.
Even in 1888 you needed a security ID photo!
People & professions, Such was life:
When the idea of celebrating a century of European settlement in Australia was first raised in 1886, Victoria volunteered to host an international exhibition of arts and industries. The resulting… Read More ›
What is Australia’s earliest surviving printed document?
Arts & literature, Such was life:
Australia’s earliest surviving printed document is a playbill which advertises a performance of the tragedy, Jane Shore, followed by a comic dance, The Wapping landlady and a farce, The miraculous… Read More ›
The Argus newspaper in colour
Social life & customs, Such was life:
On Monday 28 July 1952, the Melbourne Argus became the first newspaper in the world to print a high-speed action news picture in full colour. In what was a technological… Read More ›
Diggers’ diaries
‘Well I have been to gay Paris and all I can say is it is wonderful…Melbourne is like the smallest of bush towns compared with it, wishing that dear old… Read More ›
Melbourne Cup facts
Celebrate this race that stops a nation by learning some key Melbourne Cup facts.
